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That which stands in the way, or opposes; anything that hinders progress; a hindrance; an obstruction, physical or moral. If all obstacles were cut away. And that my path were even to the crown. Shak.

r passage; to place an obstacle in, or fill with obstacles or impediments that prevent or hinder passing; as, to obstruct a street; to obstruct the channels of the body. 'T is the obstructed paths of sound shall clear. Pope.

One who obstructs or hinders.

One who hinders progress; one who obstructs business, as in a legislative body. -- a.

Tending to obstruct; presenting obstacles; hindering; causing impediment. -- Ob*struct"ive*ly, adv.

Causing obstruction; blocking up; hindering; as, an obstruent medicine. Johnson.

To hinder or stop, as by an overslaugh or an impediment; as, to overslaugh a bill in a legislative body; to overslaugh a military officer, that is, to hinder his promotion or employment. [Local Cant, U. S.]

One who permits. A permitter, or not a hinderer, of sin. J. Edwards.

Situated behind; hinder; -- opposed to anterior.

The hinder parts, as of an animal's body. Swift.

The hindermost dorsal piece of a thoracic somite of an insect; the plate behind the scutellum.

To put a barrier before; hence, to shut out; to hinder; to stop; to impede. The valves preclude the blood from entering the veins. E. Darwin.

Shutting out; precluding, or tending to preclude; hindering. -- Pre*clu"sive*ly, adv.

Foresight. [Obs.] Naught might hinder his quick prejudize. Spenser.

To come before; to anticipate; hence, to hinder; to prevent. [Obs.] Philips.

To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. "This vile purpose to prevent." Shak. Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. Milton.

Capable of being prevented or hindered; as, preventable diseases.

One who prevents or obstructs; a hinderer; that which hinders; as, a preventer of evils or of disease.

So as to prevent or hinder.

The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting. South. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. Shak.