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.
Pre*vent", v. i. To come before the
usual time. [Obs.]
Strawberries . . . will prevent and come
early.
Bacon.
