prevention

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of preventing

   Prevention of crime is important.

2. 2
   noun

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

   a fire prevention campaign

3. 3
   noun

   Any measure intended to limit health-related risks (such as information campaigns, vaccination, early diagnosis etc.).

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

4. 4
   noun

   The act of going, or state of being, before.

   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.

5. 5
   noun

   Anticipation; especially, anticipation of needs, wishes, hazards and risks

   [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.

6. 6
   noun

   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?

Etymology

From Middle English prevencion, from Medieval Latin prēventiō.