prevention English · revision 6794

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=mid-15th century|origins=la praevenio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɹɪˈvɛnʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English prevencioun, [[bor|frm|prévention]] or [[m|la-lat|praeventio|t=a going before, anticipating]],^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) a noun of action from [[m|la|praevenio|alt=praevenīre|t=to come before, anticipate]] (see [[prevent]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The action of stopping something from happening: the mid-15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) late Middle English in SOED.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Early senses kept the Latin idea of coming before: the action of one thing before another (1544), action in anticipation of the expected time (1571) and forestalling another person (1582), all now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In canon law prevention was a superior's right to act before an inferior in a case (1528), and in Scots law a similar right of a superior judge.^(OED 1989) Action meant to guard against an expected danger is from 1600, and keeping something from happening by measures taken in advance from 1661, the 1660s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The proverb ''prevention is better than cure'' sums up the modern sense.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1528 – in canon law, the right to act first.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1544 – a coming before (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1600 – action against an anticipated danger.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1661 – keeping something from happening.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of preventing something or stopping it from happening: ''crime prevention''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[hindrance]] or [[obstacle]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[chemoprevention]]

+ * [[nonprevention]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prevent]]

+ * [[preventive]]

+ * [[venue]]

+ * [[advent]]

+ * [[convene]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}