forestall

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word forestall. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word forestall, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say forestall in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word forestall you have here. The definition of the word forestall will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition offorestall, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: föreställ

English

Etymology 1

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.

Pronunciation

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.
    • 1634 October 9 (first performance), , edited by H Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: , before the Right Honorable, Iohn Earle of Bridgewater, Vicount Brackly, Lord President of Wales, and One of His Maiesties Most Honorable Privie Counsell.">…] , London: ">…] for Hvmphrey Robinson, , published 1637, →OCLC; reprinted as Comus:  (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903, →OCLC:
      What need a man forestall his date of grief, / And run to meet what he would most avoid?
    • 1919, W Somerset Maugham, “chapter 26”, in The Moon and Sixpence, : Grosset & Dunlap Publishers , →OCLC:
      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).
  6. (UK, 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
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

Noun

forestall (plural forestalls)

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

Anagrams