Webster's English Dictionary

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veto

1. ve.to \'ve-t-(.)o-\ n or vetoes [L, I forbid, fr. vetare to forbid] pl  
   1: an authoritative prohibition : INTERDICTION  2a: a power of one 
   department or branch of a government to forbid or prohib it finally or 
   provisionally the carrying out of projects attempted by another department; 
   esp : a power vested in a chief executive to prevent permanently or 
   temporarily the enactment of measures passed by a legislature 2b1: the 
   exercise of such authority  2b2: a message communicating the reasons of an 
   executive and esp. the presi dent of the U.S. for vetoing a proposed law
2. veto \-.o-(-*)r\ vt : to refuse to admit or approve : PROHIBIT; also : 
   to ref use assent to (a legislative bill) so as to prevent enactment or 
   cause reconsideration - ve.to.er n