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Shakespeare wrote in English. "Prevent" meant the same to him as it does to any other English speaker, to stop something from happening. An example is in Hamlet Act 3 Scene 1 in which King Claudius says, "the hatch and disclose will be some danger; which for to prevent . . ." In other words, he foresees danger which he hopes to prevent by sending Hamlet to England.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago"Prevent", honestly. It means to stop something from happening before it happens. Here are some examples:
"I do doubt the hatch and the disclose
Will be some danger; which for to prevent,
I have in quick determination
Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England
For the demand of our neglected tribute." (Claudius in Hamlet)
Claudius thinks Hamlet is going to cause trouble, dangerous trouble, and to prevent it, to keep it from happening, he's going to send Hamlet out of the country.
"So shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the King and Queen moult no feather." (Hamlet, in Hamlet)
Hamlet has been having a hard time wringing from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern why they have all of a sudden arrived in Denmark and started hanging around. The key here is that "discovery" does not mean what you think it does--it means "revealing what you know". Hamlet says he will tell R&G what their secret instructions so they won't have to tell him and break their promise to the King and Queen.
"So Caesar may. Then, lest he may, prevent." (Brutus in Julius Caesar) Caesar might want to become all-powerful. Just in case, Brutus says, we should prevent him (by killing him).
"Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly!
Where is thy lustre now?" (Cornwall in King Lear)
Cornwall has already removed one of Gloucester's eyes. To keep his remaining eye from seeing more, he removes it too.
You will note the word "lest" which hovers around "prevent". Although "prevent" means exactly what it does in Modern English, "lest" may be less familiar. It means "in case" (not "unless")
Answers above are incorrect for the word, "Prevent", in Shakespearian.
Prevent used to mean, "To anticipate", in which students, who were paying attention, took the definition as, "To let happen".
Source: Oxford School Shakespeare (2009 edition), typically provided at school, wherein provided Shakepeare definitions and clarifications of the meaning of a phrase.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoHe meant the same thing you do: to stop something from happening. "I read an article which says that you can prevent cancer by eating asparagus" would have had the same meaning for Shakespeare as it does for you. When Shakespeare has Queen Elizabeth in Henry VI Part 3 say, "But, to prevent the tyrant's violence,- For trust not him that hath once broken faith,- I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary", it means exactly the same thing.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoPrevent is a word often used to say :stop . like 'i want to prevent from seeing her'
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoUse a dictionary. It's right there. Do your own schoolwork.
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What does Shakespeare's word mad-bread mean?
Sorry, Shakespeare did not use that word.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word townsfolk?
Shakespeare does not use the word townsfolk.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word forth?
In a forward direction.
What does shortened word oft mean in shakespeare?
Oft is not a shortened word. Often is a lengthened word. The original word is oft and the form often did not appear until about a century before Shakespeare's day. They are, of course, the same word and mean the same thing.
What does gi' mean in shakespeare plays?
William Shakespeare sometimes uses the word gi in his plays. This word has the same meaning as the word give.
What does Shakespeare's word mad-bread mean?
Sorry, Shakespeare did not use that word.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word townsfolk?
Shakespeare does not use the word townsfolk.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word forth?
In a forward direction.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word the?
Shakespeare wrote in English. "The" means exactly the same when he used it as it does when you use it.
What does shortened word oft mean in shakespeare?
Oft is not a shortened word. Often is a lengthened word. The original word is oft and the form often did not appear until about a century before Shakespeare's day. They are, of course, the same word and mean the same thing.
What does gi' mean in shakespeare plays?
William Shakespeare sometimes uses the word gi in his plays. This word has the same meaning as the word give.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word waxen?
Waxen means made of wax. Its meaning has not changed since Shakespeare used it.
What does meration mean in the play of romeo and julliet?
There is no word "meration" in Shakespeare.
What does shakespeare mean by the word fie?
Used to express distaste or disapproval.
What does shakespeare mean by the word thrice?
Tuu;6r0 dn7fcijnb-n0ce
What does Shakespeare mean by the word o'th'other?
It's short for "or the other", as in "one or the other".
What does dis mean in the word disinfectant?
prevent, stop
