forestall

Meanings

Verb

• To prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert.
• To preclude or bar from happening, render impossible.
• To purchase the complete supply of a good, particularly foodstuffs, in order to charge a monopoly price.
• To anticipate, to act foreseeingly.
• To deprive (with of).
• To obstruct or stop up, as a road; to stop the passage of a highway; to intercept on the road, as goods on the way to market.

Noun

• An ambush; plot; an interception; waylaying; rescue.
• Something situated or placed in front.

Origin

• From Middle English forestallen ("to forestall, intercept, ambush, way-lay"), from forestalle, from Old English foresteall ("intervention, hindrance of justice, ambush"), from fore- + steall, equivalent to fore- + stall.
• From Middle English forstal, from Old English foresteall ("an intervention, hindrance (of justice), ambush, assault, offence of waylaying on the highway, fine for such an offence, resistance, opposition"), equivalent to fore- + stall.