prevention

From Middle English prevencion, from Medieval Latin prēventiō.

• IPA^(key): /pɹɪˈvɛnʃən/

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prevention (countable and uncountable, plural preventions)

1. The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting.

   a fire prevention campaign

   • 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:

     Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.

   • 1698, Robert South, “Sermon Preached at Christ-Church, Oxon. before the University”, in Twelve Sermons upon Several Subjects and Occasions, volume III, London: […] Tho[mas] Warren for Thomas Bennet […], →OCLC, page 222:

     But no Man Pities another for any Evil lying upon Him, which he would not help, but which he could not. One is his Burden, the other his Choice; Vertually at least, since he might have Chosen its Prevention.

   • 1920, Francis Sales Betten, The Roman Index of Forbidden Books:

     It performed this task in the beginning and has always exercised the power of passing on books. By this transfer, the Pope points out, every danger of a collision, which might become very embarrassing, is evaded. The prevention of such collisions has indeed been one of the chief reasons for Pius X to undertake the complete reorganization of the Roman Curia.

   • 1982, Ronald Reagan, Presidential Radio Address - 2 October 1982:

     In the next few days we'll announce the administration's new strategy for the prevention of drug abuse and drug trafficking.

2. (medicine) Any measure intended to limit health-related risks (such as information campaigns, vaccination, early diagnosis etc.).
   • 1933, David Marshall Brooks, The Necessity of Atheism:

     Whatever cures are known, and preventions that are practiced now, could have been common knowledge centuries ago.

3. (obsolete) The act of going, or state of being, before.
   • 1631, Francis [Bacon], “III. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], page 59, →OCLC:

     It is generally knowne and obserued, that Light, and the Obiect of Sight, moue swifter than Sound; For we see the Flash of a Peece [i.e. firearm] is seene sooner, than the Noise is heard. […] And the greater the Distance, the greater is the Preuention: As we see in Thunder, which is farre off; where the Lightning Precedeth the Cracke a good space.

4. (obsolete) Anticipation; especially, anticipation of needs, wishes, hazards and risks
   • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:

     [Suffolk, York and Beaufort]
     Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings,
     And, fly thou how thou canst, they’ll tangle thee:
     But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared,
     Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

5. precaution; forethought.
   • 1659, Henry Hammond, A Paraphrase and Annotations upon All the Books of the New Testament, London: Richard Davis, The Gospel according to S. LUKE, Chapter 14, verse 3, p. 238,

     And Jesus […] by way of prevention asked a question of the Doctors of the law and Pharisees that were present, saying, Is the working of a cure on a sick man a thing forbidden, and so unlawfull to be done upon a sabbath day?

• pervention, provenient

prevention

1. genitive singular of preventio