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Added 9 October 2026

prevent

/pɹɪˈvɛnt/ verb

In Latin: arceō Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about prevent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Keep from happening or arising; make impossible.
My sense of tact forbids an honest answer
Stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state.
We must prevent the cancer from spreading

Origin

From Middle English preventen (“anticipate”), from Latin praeventus, perfect passive participle of praeveniō (“to anticipate”), from prae (“before”) + veniō (“to come”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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