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Webster 1913 Edition

Forestall

Fore-stall′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Forestalled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Forestalling
.]
[OE.
forstallen
to stop, to obstruct; to stop (goods) on the way to the market by buying them beforehand, from
forstal
obstruction, AS.
forsteal
,
foresteall
, prop., a placing one’s self before another. See
Fore
, and
Stall
.]
1.
To take beforehand, or in advance; to anticipate.
What need a man
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
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
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.
[See Stall.]
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.]

Definition 2024

forestall

forestall

See also: föreställ

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /fɔː(r)ˈstɔːl/
  • Rhymes: -ɔːl

Verb

forestall ‎(third-person singular simple present forestalls, present participle forestalling, simple past and past participle forestalled)

  1. (transitive) To prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert.
    Fred forestalled disaster by his prompt action.
  2. (transitive) To preclude or bar from happening, render impossible.
    In French, an aspired h forestalls elision.
  3. (archaic) To purchase the complete supply of a good, particularly foodstuffs, in order to charge a monopoly price.
  4. To anticipate, to act foreseeingly.
    • Milton
      What need a man forestall his date of grief, / And run to meet what he would most avoid?
    • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, chapter 26
      She insisted on doing her share of the offices needful to the sick. She arranged his bed so that it was possible to change the sheet without disturbing him. She washed him. […] She did not speak to him much, but she was quick to forestall his wants.
  5. To deprive (with of).
    • Shakespeare
      All the better; may / This night forestall him of the coming day!
  6. (Britain, law) 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.
Synonyms
  • See also Wikisaurus:hinder
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 2

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.

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈfɔː(r).stɔːl/

Noun

forestall ‎(plural forestalls)

  1. (obsolete or historical) An ambush; plot; an interception; waylaying; rescue.
  2. Something situated or placed in front.

Anagrams

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.

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