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To be prevented from going farther; to stop by reason of some obstacle; to be stayed. I had most need of blessing, and "Amen" Stuck in my throat. Shak. The trembling weapon passed Through nine bull hides, . . . and stuck within the last. Dryden.

To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration. You shall stifle in your own report. Shak.

To hinder from acting or moving; to prevent the effect or efficiency of; to cause to cease; to repress; to restrain; to suppress; to interrupt; to suspend; as, to stop the execution of a decree, the progress of vice, the approaches of old age or infirmity. Whose disposition all the world well knows Will not be rubbed n…

A partition or door to direct or prevent a current of air.

ically, an openwork or perforated screen, as for the end of the suctionpipe of a pump, to prevent large solid bodies from entering with a liquid.

To quit work in order to compel an increase, or prevent a reduction, of wages.

To hinder from growing to the natural size; to prevent the growth of; to stint, to dwarf; as, to stunt a child; to stunt a plant. When, by a cold penury, I blast the abilities of a nation, and stunt the growth of its active energies, the ill or may do is beyond all calculation. Burke.

tiff wire, inserted in catheters or other tubular instruments to maintain their shape and prevent clogging.

To come under, as a support or stay; to happen. A future state must needs subvene to prevent the whole edifice from falling into ruin. Bp. Warburton.

To retard the motion of, as a carriage, by preventing one or more of its wheels from revolving, either by means of a chain or otherwise. [Obs.]

To retain without disclosure; to conceal; not to reveal; to prevent publication of; as, to suppress evidence; to suppress a pamphlet; to suppress the truth. She suppresses the name, and this keeps him in a pleasing suspense. Broome.

lness and oppression of the system, occasioned often by excessive eating and drinking. To prevent surfeit and other diseases that are incident to those that heat their blood by travels. Bunyan.

rprise. How to secure the lady from surprisal. Milton. Because death is uncertain, let us prevent its surprisal. Barrow.

Held or lifted up; held or prevented from proceeding. [Obs.] [The great light of day] suspense in heaven. Milton.

The horizontal bracing of a bridge, which prevents its swaying.

Free course; unrestrained liberty or license; tendency. "Take thy swing." Dryden. To prevent anything which may prove an obstacle to the full swing of his genius. Burke. Full swing. See under Full. -- Swing beam (Railway Mach.), a crosspiece sustaining the car body, and so suspended from the framing of a truck that it…

ctric current to another circuit. Safety switch (Railways), a form of switch contrived to prevent or lessen the danger of derailment of trains. -- Switch back (Railways), an arrangement of tracks whereby elevations otherwise insurmountable are passed. The track ascends by a series of zigzags, the engine running altern…

turn round, with respect to each other, on a longitudinal pin or axis, as in a chain, to prevent twisting.

Inoculation with the syphilitic virus, especially when employed as a preventive measure, like vaccination.

one piece of timber into another, by alternate scores or projections from the middle, to prevent slipping; to scarf.