forefend - definition of forefend - synonyms, pronunciation, spelling from Free Dictionary

Open English WordNet

prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off“Let's avoid a confrontation”“head off a confrontation”“avert a strike”Synonyms: debar forfend obviate deflect avert head off stave off fend off avoid ward offMore general prevent, forestall

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Fore·fend′ transitive verb

Origin: OE. forfenden; pref. for- + fenden to fend. See Fend, transitive verb

To hinder; to fend off; to avert; to prevent the approach of; to forbid or prohibit. See Forfend.

God forefend it should ever be recorded in our history.— Walter S. Landor

It would be a far better work... to forefend the cruelty.— Isaac Taylor

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54