forestall

Meanings

1. To prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert.
2. To preclude or bar from happening, render impossible.
3. To purchase the complete supply of a good, particularly foodstuffs, in order to charge a monopoly price.
4. To anticipate, to act foreseeingly.
5. To deprive (with of).
6. 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.

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

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.