Lewis & Short

prae-strŭo, xi, ctum, 3, v. a.,

  1. I. to build before, as a preparation for other buildings, to lay a foundation: praestructa (opp. ea) quae superposita incumbent, Col. 1, 5, 9.
    1. B. Transf., to build up in front, to block or stop up, to make impassable or inaccessible (mostly poet.): ille aditum vasti praestruxerat obice montis, Ov. F. 1, 563: hospitis effugio praestruxerat omnia Minos, id. A. A. 2, 21: porta Fonte praestructa, stopped up, id. M. 14, 797; cf.: densato scutorum compage se scientissime praestruebant, Amm. 14, 2, 10.
  2. II. Trop., to make ready or prepare beforehand for any thing: fraus fidem in parvis sibi praestruit, prepares or secures for itself credibility in trifles, Liv. 28, 42, 7: praestruit ad illud quod dicturus est, multa esse crimina in Verre quae, etc., Ascon. ad Cic. Div. in Caecil. 8: tacitas vindictae iras. Claud. ap. Ruf. 2, 280: prius agmina saevo praestrue Marti, id. IV. Cons. Hon. 319.
    1. B. To arrange or contrive beforehand: cum praestructum utrumque consulto esset, whereas it had all been concerted beforehand, Suet. Tib. 53: id scilicet praestruentes, Amm. 31, 7.
      Hence, praestructus, a, um, P. a., prepared: praestructum bellis civilibus hostem, Claud. B. Gild. 285.