Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early.
--Bacon.
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.