'Forestall' definitions:
Definition of 'forestall'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Forestall'
From: GCIDE
- Forestall \Fore*stall"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forestalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Forestalling.] [OE. forstallen to stop, to obstruct; to stop (goods) on the way to the market by buying them beforehand, from forstal obstruction, AS. forsteal, foresteall, prop., a placing one's self before another. See Fore, and Stall.]
- 1. To take beforehand, or in advance; to anticipate. [1913 Webster]
- What need a man forestall his date of grief, And run to meet what he would most avoid? --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To take possession of, in advance of some one or something else, to the exclusion or detriment of the latter; to get ahead of; to preoccupy; also, to exclude, hinder, or prevent, by prior occupation, or by measures taken in advance. [1913 Webster]
- An ugly serpent which forestalled their way. --Fairfax. [1913 Webster]
- But evermore those damsels did forestall Their furious encounter. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- To be forestalled ere we come to fall. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Habit is a forestalled and obstinate judge. --Rush. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To deprive; -- with of. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- All the better; may This night forestall him of the coming day! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 4. (Eng. Law) To obstruct or stop up, as a way; to stop the passage of on highway; to intercept on the road, as goods on the way to market. [1913 Webster]
- To forestall the market, to buy or contract for merchandise or provision on its way to market, with the intention of selling it again at a higher price; to dissuade persons from bringing their goods or provisions there; or to persuade them to enhance the price when there. This was an offense at law in England until 1844. --Burrill.
- Syn: To anticipate; monopolize; engross. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'forestall'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- anticipate,
- avert,
- bamboozle,
- bar,
- beguile,
- betray,
- bluff,
- cajole,
- calculate on,
- cheat on,
- circumvent,
- conjure,
- corner,
- count on,
- debar,
- deceive,
- deflect,
- delay,
- delude,
- deter,
- diddle,
- discourage,
- dishearten,
- double-cross,
- dupe,
- engross,
- estop,
- exclude,
- fend,
- fend off,
- forbid,
- foreclose,
- foreglimpse,
- forerun,
- foresee,
- foretaste,
- frustrate,
- gammon,
- get ahead of,
- get around,
- go before,
- go off half-cocked,
- gull,
- help,
- hinder,
- hoax,
- hocus-pocus,
- hog,
- hornswaggle,
- humbug,
- intercept,
- juggle,
- jump the gun,
- keep from,
- keep off,
- let down,
- look for,
- look forward to,
- look out for,
- look to,
- mock,
- monopolize,
- obstruct,
- obviate,
- outmaneuver,
- outreach,
- outsmart,
- outwit,
- overreach,
- parry,
- pigeon,
- play one false,
- preclude,
- prevent,
- prohibit,
- put something over,
- reckon on,
- repel,
- rule out,
- save,
- snow,
- stave off,
- stop,
- string along,
- take in,
- take it all,
- thwart,
- tie up,
- trick,
- turn aside,
- two-time,
- ward,
- ward off,
- watch out for,
- win the start