Etimology
From Middle English preventen (“anticipate”), from Latin praeventus, perfect passive participle of praeveniō (“I anticipate”), from prae (“before”) + veniō (“I come”).
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.
Examples
I brush my teeth regularly to prevent tooth decay.
Scotland must now hope Georgia produce a huge upset and beat Argentina by at least eight points in Sunday's final Pool B match to prevent them failing to make the last eight for the first time in World Cup history.
I think you must be mad, and she shall not have a glimpse of it while I'm here to prevent!
We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us.
We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
Then had I come, preventing Sheba's Queen, / To ſee the comelieſt of the Sons of Men; […]
With that he put his spurres vnto his steed, / With speare in rest, and toward him did fare, / Like shaft out of a bow preuenting speed.
their ready guilt preventing thy commands
Related words
synonyms
See also Thesaurus:hinder