prevention

Etymology

From Middle English prevencion, from Medieval Latin prēventiō.

noun

1. The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting.
   a fire prevention campaign
   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. 1920, Francis Sales Betten, The Roman Index of Forbidden Books
   In the next few days we'll announce the administration's new strategy for the prevention of drug abuse and drug trafficking. 1982, Ronald Reagan, Presidential Radio Address - 2 October 1982
2. (medicine) 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. 1933, David Marshall Brooks, The Necessity of Atheism
3. (obsolete) The act of going, or state of being, before.
4. (obsolete) Anticipation; especially, anticipation of needs, wishes, hazards and risks
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?