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Definition
to prevent something by taking action- What can we do to forestall misunderstanding?
- seeking union concessions to forestall bankruptcy
- every opportunity of speaking to her alone appeared to be forestalled.Charles Dickens -- Little Dorrit
- His gravity was unusual, portentous, and immeasurable, not because he admitted any doubt of himself but because he perceived it necessary to forestall any doubt of himself in others.Charles Dickens -- Our Mutual Friend
- So he forestalled what might be the next move:Mark Twain -- Tom Sawyer
- Frederick's confession of folly need not be forestalled.Jane Austen -- Northanger Abbey
- interposing quickly to forestall a retort from JaneGeorge Bernard Shaw -- An Unsocial Socialist
- It forestalled a really vicious war that could have lasted for decades.Orson Scott Card -- Ender's Game
- Ender, however, was trying to figure out a way to forestall vengeance.Orson Scott Card -- Ender's Game
- He mocked himself to forestall the mocking comments of anti-semites.Orson Scott Card -- Ender's Game
- He opened his mouth to speak again, but Arya forestalled him by placing three of her fingers upon his lips.Christopher Paolini -- Inheritance
- He made a shooing motion to forestall his student's protest.Patrick Rothfuss -- The Name of the Wind
- I know it was a slight knowledge,' said Mr Meagles, dexterously forestalling an angry interruption which he saw about to break.Charles Dickens -- Little Dorrit
- Her light grey eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every little want and forestalling it if possible.Arthur Conan Doyle -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
- Supposing someone had forestalled him?Agatha Christie -- The ABC Murders
- The Proclamation became necessary to hold his remaining supporters and to forestall—so he believed-English recognition of the Confederacy.Richard Hofstadter -- Abraham Lincoln and the Self-Made Myth
- Two men stand at the door to forestall the sisters and keep them occupied if they chance to come along.Erich Maria Remarque -- All Quiet on the Western Front
- Akhilleus shook his head at the rest of the Akhaians, allowing none to shoot or cast at Hektor— none to forestall him, and to win the honor.Homer -- The Iliad
- ] and might not you Forestall our sport, to make us thus untrue?William Shakespeare -- Love's Labour's Lost
- He lifted a hand to call a messenger to his side, but Attolia forestalled him.Megan Whalen Turner -- Queen of Attolia
forestalled = prevented
forestall = prevent something by taking action
forestall = prevent