prohibit

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pro·hib·it / prəˈhibit; prō-/ • v. (-hib·it·ed, -hib·it·ing) [tr.] formally forbid (something) by law, rule, or other authority: laws prohibiting cruelty to animals. ∎  (prohibit someone/something from doing something) formally forbid a person or group from doing something: he is prohibited from being a director. ∎  (of a fact or situation) prevent (something); make impossible: the budget agreement had prohibited any tax cuts.DERIVATIVES: pro·hib·it·er n.pro·hib·i·tor / -ər/ n.pro·hib·i·to·ry / -ˌtôrē/ adj.ORIGIN: late Middle English: from Latin prohibit- ‘kept in check,’ from the verb prohibere, from pro- ‘in front’ + habere ‘to hold.’

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