forestall

/fɔː(ɹ)ˈstɔːl/

Etymology

From Middle English forestallen (“to forestall, intercept, ambush, way-lay”), from forestalle (“a forestalling, interception”), from Old English foresteall (“intervention, hindrance of justice, ambush”), from fore- (“ahead of, before”) + steall (“position”), equivalent to fore- + stall.

forestall means to prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert. Lexicurio rates it Distinctive — a strength score of 66 out of 100.

forestall is pronounced /fɔː(ɹ)ˈstɔːl/.

verb

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 purchase the complete supply of a good, particularly foodstuffs, in order to charge a monopoly price.
To anticipate, to act foreseeingly.“What need a man forestall his date of grief, / And run to meet what he would most avoid?”
To deprive (with of).“All the better; may / This night forestall him of the coming day!”
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.