▪ I. forestalling, vbl. n.
(fɔəˈstɔːlɪŋ)
[f. forestall v. + -ing1.]
The action of the vb. forestall.
† 1. The action of obstructing a person in the highway or a deer on its way back to the forest.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 95 Forstallynge, wrong oþer let i-doo in þe kynges hiȝe weie. 1544 tr. Littleton's Tenures 54 b, Yf by suche forstallynge and manassynge he that hath Rent charge..is forstalled. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 178 Acquitted of all actions and customes of charge, except fellonie, breach of the peace, and forstalling. 1594 Crompton Auth. & Jurisd. Crts. 153 b, Mes si le cheine per chaunce obuie vn Dame et luy tue, ceo nest forestalling. |
2. The buying up of goods beforehand, etc.
| 1548 Cranmer Catech. 77 By forstalling, regratyng, agreements in haules to raise the price of thinges. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. Burrow Lawes 141 That na man of quhat estate he be may repledge his man, for foristallinge fra the Court of the burgh. 1735 Kirby Suffolk Trav. (1764) 53 The Practice of Forestalling is carried to such a height, as [etc.]. 1800 Addison Amer. Law Rep. 27 Usury is..a forestalling of money. 1872 Yeats Growth Comm. 379 Edicts were directed against forestalling, that is, transacting any business before the opening of the fair. |
3. The action of being before or beforehand with some one or something else; anticipation.
| 1642 R. Carpenter Experience i. xvi. 112 With her fore⁓stalling of death, and singing her owne obsequies. 1782 Paine Let. Abbé Raynal Introd. (1791) 4 The forestalling the Abbe's publication by London editions. 1833 I. Taylor Fanat. v. 95 A proud forestalling of misery. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. v. 315 This sounds very much like a forestalling of the Gunpowder Plot. |
† 4. The action of appropriating beforehand. Obs.
| 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. iii. ix. §26. 115 Such forestalling of Livings to Forrainers was forbidden. |
▪ II. forestalling, ppl. a.
(fɔəˈstɔːlɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That forestalls, in senses of vb.
| 1592 Greene Upst. Courtier Wks. (Grosart) XI. 262 To bridle the extorting and forestalling coosenage. 1634 Milton Comus 284 Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. 1799 Spirit Publ. Jrnls. I. 148 The monopolizing and fore⁓stalling butchers cannot take in the public. 1839 Hood Open Question xii, No children, with forestalling smiles, Throng, happy, to the gates of Eden Minor. |