Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Prohibit?

\Pro*hib"it\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prohibited}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prohibiting}.] [L. prohibitus, p. p. of prohibere to prohibit; pro before, forth + habere to have, hold. See {Habit}.] 1. To forbid by authority; to interdict; as, God prohibited Adam from eating of the fruit of a certain tree; we prohibit a person from doing a thing, and also the doing of the thing; as, the law prohibits men from stealing, or it prohibits stealing. Note: Prohibit was formerly followed by to with the infinitive, but is now commonly followed by from with the verbal noun in -ing. 2. To hinder; to debar; to prevent; to preclude. Gates of burning adamant, Barred over us, prohibit all egress. --Milton. Syn: To forbid; interdict; debar; prevent; hinder. Usage: {Prohibit}, {Forbid}. To forbid is Anglo-Saxon, and is more familiar; to prohibit is Latin, and is more formal or official. A parent forbids his child to be out late at night; he prohibits his intercourse with the profane and vicious.