Preclude, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Precluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Precluding.]
Etymology: [L. praecludere, praeclusum; prae before + claudere to shut. See Close, v.]
1. To put a barrier before; hence, to shut out; to hinder; to stop; to impede. The valves preclude the blood from entering the veins. E. Darwin.
2. To shut out by anticipative action; to prevent or hinder by necessary consequence or implication; to deter action of, access to, employment of, etc.; to render ineffectual; to obviate by anticipation. This much will obviate and preclude the objections. Bentley.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for preclude; he lists it under prevent, prohibit.
Where he writes about it:
To obviate (literally, to stop the way of or remove from the way), is to prevent by interception, so that something that would naturally withstand or disturb may be kept from doing so; to preclude, (literally, to close or shut in advance) is to prevent by anticipation or by logical necessity; walls and bars precluded the possibility of escape; a supposition is precluded; a necessity or difficulty is obviated. — from prevent