[f. FORESTALL v. + -MENT.]
The action of forestalling in various senses; an instance of this. a. Law. Hindering from entry on land, etc. b. Buying up goods beforehand. c. Anticipation in general; † prejudice.
a. 1628. Coke, On Litt., 162 a. A forestallment with such a menace [of death or mutilation] is a disseisin.
b. 1861. Riley, Liber Albus, 172, heading. A fine exacted for the Forestalment of cloths.
c. 1611. Cotgr., Anticipation … forestallment.
1612–5. Bp. Hall, Contempl., N. T., IV. xxx. What heed is to be taken of men’s judgment? So light are they upon the balance, that one dram of prejudice or forestalment turns the scales.
1664. Power, Experimental Philosophy, III. 187. When they have arrived to a competent height in any Art or Science, if any difficulty do arise that their Art cannot presently reach unto, they instantly pronounce it a thing impossible to be done; which inconsiderable and rash censure and forestallment of their endevours, does not onely stifle their own further Enquiries, but also hangs, to all succeeding ages, as a Scar-crow to affright them for ever approching that difficulty.
1876. Mozley, Univ. Serm., iv. 87. Action then, on a large scale, and the overpowering effect of great gifts, are what produce, in a great degree, what we call the canonization of men—the popular judgment which sets them up morally and spiritually upon the pinnacle of the temple, and which professes to be a forestalment, through the mouth of the Church or of religious society, of the final judgment.
1882. T. Hardy, Two on Tower, II. v. 85. He had learnt the fatal forestallment of his stellar discovery.
