Pre*vent" , v. i. To come before the usual time. [Obs.]
Strawberries .
. . will prevent and come early.
Bacon.
Pre*vent" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prevented;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Preventing.]
[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.
Hear it pronounced