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deter

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To deter is defined as to keep someone from completing an action by giving them fear or doubt.

(verb)

An example of to deter is for a policeman to stop you to ask questions.

See deter in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb deterred, deterring

to keep or discourage (a person, group, or nation) from doing something by instilling fear, anxiety, doubt, etc.

Origin: L deterrere < de-, from + terrere, to frighten: see terror

Related Forms:

determent noun

See deter in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb de·terred, de·ter·ring, de·ters

verb, transitive

To prevent or discourage from acting, as by means of fear or doubt: “Does negotiated disarmament deter war?” (Edward Teller). See Synonyms at dissuade.

verb, intransitive

To prevent or discourage the occurrence of an action, as by means of fear or doubt: “It's this edge that gives nuclear weapons their power to deter” (Thomas Powers).

Origin:

Origin: Latin dēterrēre

Origin: : dē-, de-

Origin: + terrēre, to frighten

Related Forms: