prae-vĕnĭo, vēni, ventum, 4 (in tmesi: praeque diem veniens, Verg. E. 8, 17), v. n. 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.
I 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.—
β 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.—
2 To come or go beforehand (late Lat.): ut praeveniant ad vos, Vulg. 2 Cor. 9, 5: praevenit ungere corpus meum, id. Marc. 14, 8.—
II Trop., to surpass , excel , be superior (post-Aug.): Nomentanae vites fecunditate (Amineas) praeveniunt, Col. 3, 2, 14.