Forestall

v. t. [imp. & p. p. FORESTALLED; p. pr. & vb. n. FORESTALLING.] [A-S. foresteallan. See STALL.] 1. To take beforehand, or in advance; to anticipate. Why need a man forestall his date of grief, And run to meet what he would most avoid? Milton. 2. To take possession of in advance of something else, to the exclusion or detriment of the latter; to pre-occupy; also, to exclude, hinder, or prevent, by prior occupation or by measures taken in advance; to influence before the means or the opportunity for a right opinion or judgment. An ugly serpent which forestalled their way. Fairfax. But evermore those damzells did forestall Their furious encounter. Spenser. To be forestalled ere we come to fall. Shak. Habit is a forestalled and obstinate judge. Rush. 3. To deprive; — with of. [Rare.] May This night forestall him of the coming day. Shak. 4. (Eng. Law.) To obstruct or stop up, as a way; to stop the passage of on the highway; to intercept on the road. To forestall the market, to buy or contract for merchandise or provision on its way to the 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. Burrill. Syn.—To anticipate; pre-occupy; monopolize; engross.

n. One who forestalls; a person who purchases provisions before they come to the fair or market, with a view to raise the price. Locke.