PREVENT', L. proevenio, supra.
1. To go before to precede.
I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried. Psalms 119
2. To precede, as something unexpected or unsought.
The days of my affliction prevented me. Job 30
3. To go before to precede to favor by anticipation or by hindering distress or evil.
The God of my mercy shall prevent me. Psalms 59
Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favor.
4. To anticipate.
Their ready guilt preventing thy commands.
5. To preoccupy to pre-engage to attempt first.
Thou hast prevented us with overtures of love.
In all the preceding senses, the word is obsolete.
6. To hinder to obstruct to intercept the approach or access of. This is now the only sense. No foresight or care will prevent every misfortune. Religion supplies consolation under afflictions which cannot be prevented. It is easier to prevent an evil than to remedy it.
Too great confidence in success, is the likeliest to prevent it.
PREVENT', To come before the usual time. Not in use.
The King James Bible has stood its ground for nearly 400 years. However, during that time the English language has changed, and with it the meanings of some words it used. Here are more than 6,500 words whose definitions have changed since 1611.Wikipedia
Read More