forestall
definition
to prevent or obstruct something by taking action in advance
example
The government implemented strict regulations to forestall potential environmental disasters before they could occur.
synonyms
preemptpreventthwart
word origin — The word 'forestall' originates from the Middle English 'forstolen', which is derived from the Old English 'for-' meaning 'before' and 'stalla' meaning 'to place' or 'to stand'.