English Dictionary |
DEBAR (debarred, debarring)
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
Dictionary entry overview: What does debar mean?
• DEBAR (verb)
The verb DEBAR has 3 senses:
1. bar temporarily; from school, office, etc.
2. prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
3. prevent from entering; keep out
Familiarity information: DEBAR used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Conjugation: |
Past simple: debarred
Past participle: debarred
-ing form: debarring
Sense 1
Meaning:
Bar temporarily; from school, office, etc.
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
debar; suspend
Hypernyms (to "debar" is one way to...):
expel; kick out; throw out (force to leave or move out)
"Debar" entails doing...:
penalise; penalize; punish (impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "debar"):
rusticate; send down (suspend temporarily from college or university, in England)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Derivation:
debarment (the act of prevention by legal means)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
avert; avoid; debar; deflect; fend off; forefend; forfend; head off; obviate; stave off; ward off
Context example:
avert a strike
Hypernyms (to "debar" is one way to...):
forbid; foreclose; forestall; preclude; prevent (keep from happening or arising; make impossible)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Prevent from entering; keep out
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
Context example:
He was barred from membership in the club
Hypernyms (to "debar" is one way to...):
disallow; forbid; interdict; nix; prohibit; proscribe; veto (command against)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Derivation:
debarment (the state of being debarred (excluded from enjoying certain possessions or rights or practices))
Context examples
Henry deeply felt the misfortune of being debarred from a liberal education.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
Nor have I been debarred, (BURNS) from participating in the intellectual feasts he has spread before us.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Could we be all assembled, our satisfaction would undoubtedly be more complete, but the absence of some is not to debar the others of amusement.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
Laurie knew this pillow well, and had cause to regard it with deep aversion, having been unmercifully pummeled with it in former days when romping was allowed, and now frequently debarred by it from the seat he most coveted next to Jo in the sofa corner.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Fanny was beginning to feel the effect of being debarred from her usual regular exercise; she had lost ground as to health since her being in Portsmouth; and but for Mr. Crawford and the beauty of the weather would soon have been knocked up now.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
I tried to conceal this as much as possible, that I might not debar him from the pleasures natural to one who was entering on a new scene of life, undisturbed by any care or bitter recollection.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
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