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To prevent. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Anything to prevent the effects of friction, esp. a compound lubricant for machinery, etc., often consisting of plumbago, with some greasy material; antifriction grease.

To be before in doing; to do or take before another; to preclude or prevent by prior action. To anticipate and prevent the duke's purpose. R. Hall. He would probably have died by the hand of the executioner, if indeed the executioner had not been anticipated by the populace. Macaulay.

omething beforehand, or before the proper time in natural order. So shall my anticipation prevent your discovery. Shak.

Whatever tends to prevent mischievous effects, or to counteract evil which something else might produce.

Counteracting or preventing hydrophobia. -- n.

Tending to prevent sleep. -- n.

Tending to prevent the formation of urinary calculi, or to destroy them when formed. -- n.

A cover for the back or arms of a chair or sofa, etc., to prevent them from being soiled by macassar or other oil from the hair.

A remedy possessing the property of preventing the return of periodic paroxysms, or exacerbations, of disease, as in intermittent fevers.

Preventing or checking the process of healing, or granulation.

Checking or preventing suppuration. -- n.

Efficacious in preventing or allaying fever. -- n.

Anything of use in preventing or healing burns or pyrosis.

Prevention of sepsis by excluding or destroying microorganisms.

A substance which prevents or retards putrefaction, or destroys, or protects from, putrefactive organisms; as, salt, carbolic acid, alcohol, cinchona.

Counteracting or preventing putrefaction, or a putrescent tendency in the system; antiputrefactive. Antiseptic surgery, that system of surgical practice which insists upon a systematic use of antiseptics in the performance of operations and the dressing of wounds.

A medicine which prevents or allays spasms or convulsions.

Preventing the contagion of smallpox.

Preventing fermentation.