Verb

(en verb)

To stop; to keep (from happening).

I brushed my teeth to prevent them from going yellow.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=October 1 , author=Tom Fordyce , title=Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Scotland must now hope Georgia produce a huge upset and beat Argentina by at least eight points in Sunday's final Pool B match to prevent them failing to make the last eight for the first time in World Cup history.}}

* 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 !’

(obsolete) To come before; to precede.

* Bible, 1 Thess. iv. 15

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

* Book of Common Prayer

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

* Prior

Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen.

(obsolete) To outdo, surpass.

* 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.

(obsolete) To be beforehand with; to anticipate.

* Alexander Pope

their ready guilt preventing thy commands

Verb

(provid)

To make a living; earn money for necessities.

It is difficult to provide for my family working on minimum wage.

To act to prepare for something.

To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate.

The contract provides that the work be well done.

I'll lend you the money, provided that you pay it back by Monday.

To give what is needed or desired, especially basic needs.

Don't bother bringing equipment, as we will provide it.

We aim to provide the local community with more green spaces.

To furnish (with), cause to be present.

* Arbuthnot

Rome was well provided with corn.

To make possible or attainable.

He provides us with an alternative option.

* Milton

Bring me berries, or such cooling fruit / As the kind, hospitable woods provide .

(obsolete, Latinism) To foresee.

(Ben Jonson)

To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See provisor .

(Prescott)