Dictionary
pre•vent
Pronunciation: (pri-vent'), [key]—
v.t.
1. to keep from occurring; avert; hinder:
He intervened to prevent bloodshed.
2. to hinder or stop from doing something:
There is nothing to prevent us from going.
3. Archaic.to act ahead of; forestall.
4. Archaic.to precede.
5. Archaic.to anticipate.
—
v.i.
to interpose a hindrance:
He will come if nothing prevents. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.