Prevent

prē-vent′, v.t. to hinder: to check: to render impo ible: ( orig. ) to go before: to be earlier than.— v.t. Prēvene′ (rare), to precede.— n. Prevē′nience .— adj. Prevē′nient ( Milt. ), going before: preceding: preventive.— n. Preventabil′ity , the quality of being preventable.— adj. Preven′table , that may be prevented or hindered.— ns. Preven′ter , one who, or that which, prevents or hinders: ( naut. ) an additional rope or spar for strengthening the ordinary one; Preven′tion , act of preventing: anticipation or forethought: obstruction.— adjs. Preven′tive , Preven′tative , tending to prevent or hinder: preservative.— n. that which prevents: a preservative.— adv. Preven′tively .— n. Preven′tivene .— Preventive service , the service rendered by the coastguard in preventing smuggling. [L. prævent us , pa.p. of prævenīre — præ , before, venīre , to come.]