All 21 Uses of
prevent
in
The Idiot
- "At all events," put in the general, not listening to the news about the letter, "at all events, you must have learned something, and your malady would not prevent your undertaking some easy work, in one of the departments, for instance?†
Chpt 1.3prevent = stop (something from happening)
- This new woman gave him further to understand that though it was absolutely the same to her whom he married, yet she had decided to prevent this marriage—for no particular reason, but that she chose to do so, and because she wished to amuse herself at his expense for that it was "quite her turn to laugh a little now!"†
Chpt 1.4
- For the first two years or so he had suspected that she wished to marry him herself, and that only her vanity prevented her telling him so.†
Chpt 1.4prevented = stopped (something from happening)
- She confessed that she had long wished to have a frank and free conversation and to ask for friendly advice, but that pride had hitherto prevented her; now, however, that the ice was broken, nothing could be more welcome to her than this opportunity.†
Chpt 1.4
- None of the band were very drunk, for the leader had kept his intended visit to Nastasia in view all day, and had done his best to prevent his followers from drinking too much.†
Chpt 1.15prevent = stop (something from happening)
- Excellency, how could I, how could I prevent it?†
Chpt 2.2
- Lebedeff did his best to keep Ardalion Alexandrovitch by him, and to prevent him from invading the prince's quarters.†
Chpt 2.6 *
- He always asked if the patient wanted anything, and when the latter replied that he only wanted to be left in peace, he would turn away obediently and make for the door on tip-toe, with deprecatory gestures to imply that he had only just looked in, that he would not speak a word, and would go away and not intrude again; which did not prevent him from reappearing in ten minutes or a quarter of an hour.†
Chpt 2.6
- I point this out, prince, to prevent misunderstanding.†
Chpt 2.9
- I shall be delighted if you will let me—" A violent fit of coughing, which lasted a full minute, prevented him from finishing his sentence.†
Chpt 2.9prevented = stopped (something from happening)
- You were prevented by Aglaya Ivanovna.†
Chpt 2.9
- He burst out laughing, and was seized with a fit of coughing which lasted for two minutes and prevented him from speaking.†
Chpt 2.10
- At every fresh avowal he professed the deepest repentance, and described himself as being "bathed in tears"; but this did not prevent him from putting on a boastful air at times, and some of his stories were so absurdly comical that both he and the prince laughed like madmen.†
Chpt 2.11prevent = stop (something from happening)
- If I had had the power to prevent my own birth I should certainly never have consented to accept existence under such ridiculous conditions.†
Chpt 3.7
- Let her alone, and I'll use all my power to prevent her writing you any more letters.†
Chpt 3.8
- He prevented Lebedeff spreading the news—he wouldn't even tell me all when I asked him—†
Chpt 4.1prevented = stopped (something from happening)
- The man of today is a broader man, so to speak—and I declare I believe that is what prevents him from being so self-contained and independent a being as his brother of those earlier days.†
Chpt 4.5prevents = stops (something from happening)
- She hated the idea of it, everyone saw that; and she would probably have liked to quarrel about it with her parents, but pride and modesty prevented her from broaching the subject.†
Chpt 4.6prevented = stopped (something from happening)
- He declared, further, that he had intended to go every day, but had always been prevented by circumstances; but that now he would promise himself the pleasure—however far it was, he would find them out.†
Chpt 4.7
- He would have given half his life to prevent Aglaya from speaking of them.†
Chpt 4.8prevent = stop (something from happening)
- People looked out for her at the funeral, too, but she was not there; and another conspicuous absentee was the captain's widow, whom Lebedeff had prevented from coming.†
Chpt 4.10prevented = stopped (something from happening)
Definition:
to stop (something from happening)