\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.