forestall
/fɔː(ɹ)ˈstɔːl/ verb C2- To prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert. · Fred forestalled disaster by his prompt action.
- To preclude or bar from happening, render impossible. · In French, an aspired h forestalls elision.
- To anticipate, to act foreseeingly.
- To deprive (with of).
He/she/it forestalls · Past forestalled · Past participle forestalled · -ing form forestalling
Verb forms
- Base form
- forestall
- He/she/it
- forestalls
- Past
- forestalled
- Past participle
- forestalled
- -ing form
- forestalling
From the library
Dantès was then guilty, and now he is innocent, and it is as much my duty to free him as it was to condemn him.” Villefort thus forestalled any danger of an inquiry, which, however improbable it might be, if it did take place would leave him defenceless.
“I was about to offer myself, sir,” said the priest; “it is our mission to forestall our duties.”
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