1. (v. t.) To take beforehand, or in advance; to anticipate.

2. (v. t.) To take possession of, in advance of some one or something else, to the exclusion or detriment of the latter; to get ahead of; to preoccupy; also, to exclude, hinder, or prevent, by prior occupation, or by measures taken in advance.

3. (v. t.) To deprive; -- with of.

4. (v. t.) To obstruct or stop up, as a way; to stop the passage of on highway; to intercept on the road, as goods on the way to market.

anticipate avert bamboozle bar beguile betray bluff cajole calculate on cheat on circumvent conjure corner count on debar deceive deflect delay delude deter diddle discourage dishearten double-cross dupe engross estop exclude fend fend off forbid foreclose foreglimpse forerun foresee foretaste frustrate gammon get ahead of get around go before go off half-cocked gull help hinder hoax hocus-pocus hog hornswaggle humbug intercept juggle jump the gun keep from keep off let down look for look forward to look out for look to mock monopolize obstruct obviate outmaneuver outreach outsmart outwit overreach parry pigeon play one false preclude prevent prohibit put something over reckon on repel rule out save snow stave off stop string along take in take it all thwart tie up trick turn aside two-time ward ward off watch out for win the start