to forefend

9.9

To stop something bad from happening

verb
/fɔrˈfɛnd/

Archaic

: prevenir

In ancient times, people hung charms to forefend evil spirits from their homes.

Examples

We must forefend against any potential risks.
The medical staff took every precaution to forefend infection during the operation.
He hoped his caution would forefend any misunderstandings during the negotiation.
She forefended her family from harm.
The new laws were enacted to forefend against potential cybersecurity threats.
She installed a security system to forefend her home from burglaries.
Regular maintenance can help forefend costly repairs down the line.

Synonyms

to protect

vsto forefend

∞ 1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

is narrower, highlighting active prevention rather than general safety

to avoid

vsto forefend

∞ 1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

is about actively preventing harm rather than simply avoiding situations

to defend

vsto forefend

∞ 1.3

To protect people and things from attack or harm

includes defensive resistance but also preemptive protection before attacks

to cover

vsto forefend

352 1.9

To protect someone, for example by guarding them in a game

focuses more on preventing harm directly rather than offering coverage

to shield

vsto forefend

146 2.7

To protect someone or something from harm

works by actively preventing those bad things from happening

to guard

vsto forefend

84 1.3

To take care to avoid a problem or danger

is the proactive act of stopping danger rather than general caution

to avert

vsto forefend

73 5.0

To stop something bad from happening

adds a sense of warding off danger as a protective act

to shield from

vsto forefend

56 3.3

To protect people or things from harm

aims to prevent the same harm before it can occur

to safeguard

vsto forefend

45 3.7

To protect someone or something from harm

focuses more on preventing harm in the same broad way

to ward

vsto forefend

43 4.8

To keep someone or something safe from harm

prevents harm before it happens rather than ongoing guarding

to ward off

vsto forefend

34 4.4

To keep harmful or unpleasant things away from you

is broader, covering general prevention and warding actions

to fend off

vsto forefend

34 3.9

Keep unwanted people or things away so they do not harm you

is more about preventing harm before a threat appears

to stave off

vsto forefend

30 6.4

To stop something bad from happening for a while

aims for complete prevention rather than merely postponing the event

to take precaution

vsto forefend

25 3.6

Do things to avoid harm or danger

is broader, covering any act that prevents harm, not just steps

to head off

vsto forefend

23 4.8

Stop something from happening by acting early

is similar but can imply general protection as well as prevention

to keep safe

vsto forefend

9 1.8

To protect people or things from danger

focuses on stopping danger before it can arise rather than long term care

to obviate

vsto forefend

Formal

5 9.1

Prevent a problem or need by acting before it happens

is similar but more general, covering any protection or warding of danger

to shield against

vsto forefend

3 3.8

To protect a person or thing from harm

emphasizes stopping harm before it reaches the person

to forfend

vsto forefend

Archaic

2 9.9

To stop danger or harm from happening

is the same in meaning but appears in the modern form

to bulwark

vsto forefend

8.2

To protect someone or something by giving strong support like a wall

is similar but often refers to active stopping, not just strong support

Antonyms

to allow

∞ 1.0

To let something happen or let someone do something

How Protective

to ward off

34 4.4

to forefend

Archaic

9.9

to prevent

∞ 2.3

to deter

94 5.6

Surface Forms

forefend infinitive

forefended past

forefended past participle

forefending present participle

forefends third person singular

Morphology

forefend = fend (transparent) = fore + fend

The verb is a straightforward prefixation of 'fend' by the productive prefix 'fore-' giving the sense 'ward off beforehand' which aligns with 'prevent'.

Etymology

The word forefend comes from fore- meaning 'before' and fend (like defend) meaning 'to drive away' or 'protect', so it paints the picture of stopping danger ahead of time. That's why to forefend something is to prevent it or keep it from happening.