(verb) : prae-vĕnĭo, vēni, ventum, 4 (in tmesi:
* Praeque diem veniens,Verg. E. 8, 17), and a., to come before, precede, get the start of, to outstrip, anticipate, to prevent (postAug.; for, in Cic. Off. 3, 7, 33, the correct reading is peremisset; cf.: antevenio, antecedo, praeverto); constr. absol. or with acc.
* Lit., absol.: hostis breviore viā praeventurus erat,Liv. 22, 24: praevenerat non fama solum, sed nuncius etiam ex regiis servis,id. 24, 21: Lucifero praeveniente,Ov. F. 5, 548.
* With acc.: talia agentem mors praevenit,anticipated him, prevented the execution of his plans,Suet. Caes. 44: desiderium plebis,Liv. 8, 16: damnationis ignominiam voluntariā morte praevenit,anticipated,Val. Max. 1, 3, 3.—In pass., to be prevented, hindered, etc.: quae ipse paravisset facere, perfidiā clientis sui praeventa,Sall. J. 71, 5: quod non praeventum morte fuisse, dolet,prevented by death,Ov. Tr. 5, 4, 32: peregissetque ultionem, nisi morte praeventus fuisset,Just. 32, 3: praeventus est ab Agrippinā,Suet. Claud. 44; Plin. Ep. 9, 1, 3: nisi praeveniretur Agrippina,i. e. if she had not been killed beforehand,Tac. A. 14, 7: si maritus sit in magistratu, potest praeveniri a patre,the father can bring the accusation first,Dig. 48, 5, 15.
* Trop., to surpass, excel, be superior (post-Aug.): Nomentanae vites fecunditate (Amineas) praeveniunt,Col. 3, 2, 14.

s. TLL