different between prevent vs forestay

English

Alternative forms

• prævent (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English preventen (“anticipate”), from Latin praeventus, perfect passive participle of praeveni? (“I anticipate”), from prae (“before”) + veni? (“I come”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p???v?nt/
• (weak vowel merger) IPA^(key): /p???v?nt/
• Rhymes: -?nt
• Hyphenation: pre?vent

Verb

prevent (third-person singular simple present prevents, present participle preventing, simple past and past participle prevented)

1. (transitive) To stop (an outcome); to keep from (doing something). [from 16th c.]

   I brush my teeth regularly to prevent them from turning yellow.
2. (intransitive, now rare) To take preventative measures. [from 16th c.]
   • 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew

     ‘I think you must be mad, and she shall not have a glimpse of it while I'm here to prevent!’

3. (obsolete, transitive) To come before; to precede. [16th-18th c.]

   • We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

   • 1928, Book of Common Prayer

     We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us.

   • 1709, Matthew Prior, Pleasure

     Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen.

4. (obsolete, transitive) To outdo, surpass. [16th-17th c.]
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.i:

     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.

5. (obsolete, transitive) To be beforehand with; to anticipate.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:hinder

Derived terms

• prevent defense
• preventative
• prevention
• preventive

Translations

References

• prevent at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English forstay, forstey, vorstey, equivalent to fore- +? stay (“a stay, rope”).

Alternative forms

• forstay

Noun

forestay (plural forestays)

1. (nautical) A stay that extends from the top of the foremast to the bow or bowsprit of a sailing ship

Coordinate terms

• backstay

Translations

Verb

forestay (third-person singular simple present forestays, present participle forestaying, simple past and past participle forestayed)

1. (transitive) To stay beforehand; secure or fasten with or as with a forestay.

Etymology 2

From fore- +? stay (“to hold off, postpone, delay”).

Alternative forms

• forstay (Scotland)

Verb

forestay (third-person singular simple present forestays, present participle forestaying, simple past and past participle forestayed)

1. (transitive) To stay, delay, postpone, or hinder beforehand; forestall; prevent.
   • 1954, Osteopathic Magazine - Volumes 41-42 - Page 75:

     It is reasonable to suppose that further research into the complex bio-chemistry of the blood will result in more satisfactory substitutes for plasma than are now available and thereby death may be more easily forestayed.