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Webster 1913 Edition
Forestall
Fore-stall′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Forestalled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Forestalling
.] 1.
To take beforehand, or in advance; to anticipate.
What need a man
And run to meet what he would most avoid?
forestall
his date of grief,And run to meet what he would most avoid?
Milton.
2.
To take possession of, in advance of some one or something else, to the exclusion or detriment of the latter; to get ahead of; to preoccupy; also, to exclude, hinder, or prevent, by prior occupation, or by measures taken in advance.
An ugly serpent which
forestalled
their way. Fairfax.
But evermore those damsels did
Their furious encounter.
forestall
Their furious encounter.
Spenser.
To be
forestalled
ere we come to fall. Shakespeare
Habit is a
forestalled
and obstinate judge. Rush.
3.
To deprive; – with of.
[R.]
All the better; may
This night
This night
forestall
him of the coming day! Shakespeare
4.
(Eng. Law)
To obstruct or stop up, as a way; to stop the passage of on highway; to intercept on the road, as goods on the way to market.
Syn. – To anticipate; monopolize; engross.
Webster 1828 Edition
Forestall
FORESTALL'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To anticipate; to take beforehand.Why need a man forestall his date of grief, and run to meet what he would most avoid?
2.
To hinder by preoccupation or prevention.I will not forestall your judgment of the rest.
3.
In law, to buy or bargain for corn, or provisions of any kind, before they arrive at the market or fair, with intent to sell them at higher prices. This is a penal offense.4.
To deprive by something prior. [Not in use.]