PREVENT

prevent, keep

(verb) stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state; “We must prevent the cancer from spreading”; “His snoring kept me from falling asleep”; “Keep the child from eating the marbles”

prevent, forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid

(verb) keep from happening or arising; make impossible; “My sense of tact forbids an honest answer”; “Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

prevent (third-person singular simple present prevents, present participle preventing, simple past and past participle prevented)

(transitive) To stop (an outcome); to keep from (doing something). [from 16th c.]

(intransitive, now, rare) To take preventative measures. [from 16th c.]

(obsolete, transitive) To come before; to precede. [16th-18th c.]

(obsolete, transitive) To outdo, surpass. [16th-17th c.]

(obsolete, transitive) To be beforehand with; to anticipate.

Synonyms

• See also hinder

Source: Wiktionary

Pre*vent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing.] Etym: [L. praevenire, praeventum; prae before + venire to come. See Come.]

1. To go before; to precede; hence, to go before as a guide; to direct. [Obs.] We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1 Thess. iv. 15. We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us. Bk. of Common Prayer. Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen. Prior.

2. To be beforehand with; to anticipate. [Obs.] Their ready guilt preventing thy commands. Pope.

3. To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. "This vile purpose to prevent." Shak. Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. Milton.

Pre*vent", v. i.

Definition: To come before the usual time. [Obs.] Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. Bacon.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition