pre·vent /prɪˈvɛnt/
 (vt.)(vi.)預防,防止,避免,阻止,妨礙
 Pre·vent v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing.]
 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.”
    Perhaps forestalling night prevented them.   --Milton.
 Pre·vent, v. i. To come before the usual time. [Obs.]
    Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early.   --Bacon.
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 prevent
      v 1: keep from happening or arising; have the effect of
           preventing; "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"
           [syn: forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid]
      2: prevent from doing something or being in a certain state;
         "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"; "His snoring
         kept me from falling asleep"; "Keep the child from eating
         the marbles" [syn: keep] [ant: let]