1. Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off
   "They managed to forefend the crisis through quick action";
   - forfend [archaic], obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off

Derived forms: forefended, forefending, forefends

Type of: forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent