preventative 
preventative (pre-veu'ta-tiv), w. [Irreg. and 
imi>r<>i>. < prawn* + -ailve. Ct. prerentitire.] 
Same &s }>i'i r< iitin . 
The powdered root |u( deadly nightshade] him l>een given 
In dotes of ten or more grains every other night, as a 
/./... ,,M/,v, after the bite of a mad dog. 
PUkinyton, View of Derbyshire (ed. 1788), I. 356. 
preventer (pre-ven'ter), . If. One who goes 
before or takes the lead. 
The archduke was the assailant, and the preventer, and 
hud the fruit of his diligence and celerity. 
Bacon, War with Spain. 
2. One who prevents; a hinderer; that which 
hinders; a preventive. Specifically 3. Naut., 
an additional rope, chain, bolt, or spar em- 
ployed to support any other when the latter 
sutlers an unusual strain. 
prevention (pre-ven'shou), H. [< OF. preven- 
tion, ~F. prevention = Pr" precentiou = Sp. pre- 
vention = Pg. prcveiifSo = It. preveiizione, < LL. 
]>rtereiitio(n-), a going before, an anticipating, 
< L. preecenin; pp. prteccutus, come before: see 
prevent.] It. The act of going before; the 
state of preceding or being earlier; hence, an 
antecedent period of time. 
The greater the distance the greater the prevention, as 
in thunder, where the lightning precedeth the crack a 
good space. Bacon. 
2f. .The act of anticipating or forestalling; an 
anticipation ; provision made in advance. 
All other delights are the pleasures of beasts, or the 
sports of children ; these are the antepasts and preven- 
tions of the full feasts and overflowings of eternity. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 183*), I. 49. 
God's prevention*, cultivating our nature, and titling us 
with capacities of his high donatives. Hammond. 
3. Precaution; a precautionary measure; a 
preventive. 
Achievements, plots, orders, preceittioiu, 
Excitements (o the field, or s|>eech for truce, 
Success or loss, what is or IP not, serves 
As stulf for these two to make paradoxes. 
Shak., T. and('., i. 3. 181. 
Not to procure health, but tot safe prevention 
Against a growing sickness, ford, Ijtdy's Trial, i. 1. 
4. The act of hindering or rendering impossi- 
ble by previous measures ; effectual hindrance ; 
restraint, as from an intended action ; also, that 
which prevents ; an obstacle; an obstruction or 
impediment. 
C'asca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. 
Shak., J. C., 111. 1. 19. 
Others, to make surer preeeittion against their sight of 
heaven, have rolled the whole earth Iwtwixl that and their 
eyes. Ret*. T. Attaint, Works, II. 388. 
Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met 
His daring foe, at this prevention more 
Incensed. Milton, V. L., vi. 129. 
8t. Jurisdiction. 
Your sayd Grace, by veiten off your legantinc preroga- 
tive and prevention, conferr to hys chapleyn, Mr. Wilson, 
the vicarege of Thackstedd. 
State f ayert, L 311. (Ualliuvll.) 
6f. Prejudice; prepossession. 
In reading what I have written, let them bring no par- 
ticular gusto, or any prevention of mind, and that whatso- 
ever judgment they make, it may be purely their own. 
Dryden. (Imp. Diet.) 
Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act see 
corrupt. 
preventionalt (pre-ven'shon-al), a. [< preren- 
tion + -/.] Tending to prevent; preventive. 
liailcy. 
preventitivet (pre-ven'ti-tiv), n. Same as pre- 
rentire. Gregory, Economy of Nature. (La- 
t IKI HI.) 
preventive (pre-ven'tiv), a. and H. [= F. prt- 
ventif = Sp. Pg. It. prerentiro, preventive, < L. 
prtecenire, pp. prreutus, come before : see 
l>rerent.~] I. a. Serving to prevent or hinder; 
guarding against or warding off something, as 
disease, injustice, loss, etc. 
There be multitude of Examples how preventive Wars 
have been practised from all Times. 
HumU, Letters, I. vL 18. 
Preventive cautions are easier and safer then reprehen- 
slve corrosives. Baxter, Life of Faith, i. :i. 
Preventive service. See coast-guard. 
II. a. It. That which goes before; an an- 
ticipation. 
A certain anticipation of the gods, which he calls a pro- 
lepsis, a certain preventive, or foreconceived information 
of a thing in the mind. J. Moire, Works. I. 22. 
2. That which prevents ; that which constitutes 
an effectual check or insurmountable obstacle. 
As every event is naturally allied to It* cause, so by par- 
ity of reason it is opposed to its preventive. 
Harris, Hermes, 11. 2. (Latham.) 
3. Specifically, something taken, used, or done 
beforehand to ward off disease. 
4717 
He would persuade me, no doubt, that a squadron ol 
horse on the low grounds is a precrtMvt of agues, and * 
body of archers on the hills a specific for a fever. 
Landor, Kichard I. aud the Abbot of Boxley. 
Also preventative. 
preventively (pre-ven'tiv-li), adv. In a pre- 
ventive manner; by way of prevention; in a 
manner that tends to hinder. 
of its own 
l,| 
ly their 
prey 
2. A specific act of foresight or prescience. 
Stella was quite right In her precisions. She saw from 
the very tint what was going to happen. 
Thackeray, English Humorists, Swift 
= Byn. See in/emu*. 
prevoyant (pre-voi'ant), a. [< F. prtboyant, 
ppr. of prevoir, foresee, < L. prrvidere, fore- 
see: see previse."] Foreseeing. [Rare.] 
tlculate thrill'of prophecy. Mrs. (Miphant. 
V*. CKT 
. . e anterior and prominent part 
of the vermis of the cerebellum, commonly 
called vermm superior: distinguished from the 
prevertebral (pre-ver'te-bral), a. [Also pree- 
rertebral; < L. pree, before, + vertebra, verte- 
bra.] 1. Situated in front of or before the 
vertebrae. 2. Developing or appearing before 
the vertebra;.- Prevertebral fascia, a layer of fascia 
derived from the under surfce of the cervical fascia, form 
Ing a sheath over the prevertebral muscles, and behind 
the carotid vessels, esophagus, and pharynx. Preverte- 
bral muscles, muscles which lie upon the front of the 
spinal column of man : especially a group of such mus- 
cles in the neck, consisting of the longua colli, the rectus 
capitis antfcus major and minor, and the three scalent. 
Prevertebral plexuses. see^/c. 
prevesical (pri-vea'i-kal), . [< L. prm, before, 
+ renica, bladder.] Situated in front of or be- 
fore the bladder. 
preview (pre-vu'), .. t. [< /v- + rieic. Cf. 
F. prfvu, pp. of jirfroir, < L. pneridrre, foresee.] 
To see beforehand. [Hare. ] 
Prrcieic, but not prevent 
No mortal! can the miseries of life. 
Marstun, What yon Will, T. 1. 
previous (pre'vius), n. [= Sp. Pg. It. prrrio, 
< L. prsfriiig, going before, < pnr, before, + 
ri', way, road.] Going before in time; being 
or occurring before something else; earlier; 
antecedent ; prior. 
The arrival of these chieftains must have been some 
years precious. llaiyh, Anglo-Saxon Sagas, p. 81. 
Previous question, see question. - Previous to. (o) 
Being or occurring before ; antecedent to, in any sense. 
Something there Is more needful than expense, 
And something precious even to taste 'tis sense. 
Pope, Moral Essays, Iv. 42. 
(M Previously to : l>eforc(preriutt* l>efngused adverbially, 
and with the preposition to equivalent to a simple prepo- 
sition, be/ore). Compare prior to, in a like loose use. 
Precious to his embarkation Charles addressed a letter 
to his sou. Prcscott, Philip II., L 2. 
= Syn. Previous, Precedinn, Precedent, Anterior, Prior, 
Farmer, Foregoing, A ntecedcnt. All these words have lost 
their original application to space, and now apply only to 
that which goeslwfore in time, except anterior, which may 
apply also to sjpace, aa the anterior part of the brain, and 
preceding, which as a participle still primarily applies to 
space, but as an adjective generally expresses order in 
time. Preceding means Immediately before : the others 
may mean the same. Precedent often applies to that 
often means superior by lieing earlier : as, a prior claim. 
A nterior is opposed to posterior, prior to trubscquent or ntb- 
ortiinate, .fanner to latter, furefjoiwj to following, antece- 
dent to subsequent. See preliminary. 
previously (pre'vius-li), adv. In time pre- 
ceding; antecedently; beforehand: often fol- 
lowed by to. 
In April . . . IThoreaul went to live with Mr. Emerson, 
but had been on intimate terms with him preciously to 
that time. 0. H'. Holmes, Emerson, T. 
= Syn. Formerly, Previously. See formerly. 
previousness (pre'vius-nes), n. Previous oc- 
currence; antecedence; priority in time. 
previse (pre-viz'), r. t.\ pret. and pp. prevised, 
ppr. prevising. [< l,.prtet;isu, pp. of prari- 
dere (> It. preridere = Pg. Sp. prerer = Pr. pre- 
vezir = OF. prereoir, F. pre'roir), foresee, < pree, 
before, + videre, see: see vision. Cf. adrise, 
revise."] 1. To foresee. 2. To cause to fore- 
see ; forewarn ; advise beforehand. 
Mr. Pelham, It will be remembered, has prevised the 
reader that Lord Vincent was somewhat addicted to par- 
adox. Bulieer, Pelham, xv., note. 
prevision (prf-vizh'on), w. [< F. prerision = 
Pr. prnizio, prerixiim = Sp. prrrixiim = Pg. pre- 
i-i.n'iii = It. prerisioHe, < L. prieritiere, pp. prte- 
/i-iii.i. foresee: see prerine.'] 1. The act of fore- 
st-ring; foresight; foreknowledge; prescience. 
Prevision ls the best prevention. 
Rev. S. Ward, Sermons, p. 52. 
On examination we see that the prrrinnn might have 
been erroneous, and was not kinm Icil^t- unlil i-xixrinient 
had verified It. 
U. H litres, ProU of Life nd Mind, II. isw. 
Fletcher (and another). Two Noble Kinsmen, T. 1. 
prex (preks), H. [A modified abbr. of presi- 
dent."] The president of a college. [U. 8. col- 
lege cant.] 
prexy (prek'si), M. [Dim. of prex."] Same as 
pri-x. [U. S. college cant.] 
prey't, r. An obsolete form of jiroyl. 
prey- (pra), M. [Early mod. E. also pray; < ME. 
preye, praye, < OV.preie,praie, proie, F. proie = 
Pr. prcda = OSp. preda = It. preda, prey, < L. 
prteda, property taken in war, spoil, booty, 
plunder, also an animal taken in the chase, 
prey, game ; prob. contr. from 'j>rtelirda,< *prte- 
liendere, prelieiidere, contr. prendere, seize upon, 
take, < prx, before, + "lit-ndere (^ lied) = Gr. 
XavAaveiv (^ jad-), take, = E.get: see prehend 
and j/ef 1 . Cf . prede, an obs. doublet of prey'*, 
aud predatory, depredate, prize 1 , etc., from the 
same ult. source.] 1. Goods taken by robbery 
or pillage; spoil; booty; plunder. 
So the! entred in to the londe, and toke many prayes, and 
brent townes and vilages, and distroyed all the contrees. 
Merlin (T.. E. T. S.), It. 152. 
The rascal people, thirsting after preii, 
Join witli the traitor, and they jointly swear 
To spoil the city and your royal court. 
Shak., 2 Hen. VI., IT. 4.61. 
2. That which is seized by any carnivorous ani- 
mal to be devoured ; (juarry, as of a raptorial 
bird. 
The .Sparhauk und oilier Foules of Raveyne, whan thel 
fleen aftre here praye, and take It before men of Alines, 
It Is a godc Slgnc ; and zif he fyle of takynge his praye, 
it Is an evylle sygne. MandecilU, Travels, p. 1GU 
The old lion perlsheth for lack of prey. Job Iv. 11. 
stag, dog, and all, which from or towards files, 
Is paid with life ur prey, or doing die*. 
Donne, The Calm. 
Hence 3. That which is given into the power 
of another or others ; a victim. 
It may lie men have now found out that God hath pro- 
posed the Christian clergy as a prey for all men freely to 
seize upon. Uooker, Eccle*. Polity, VII. 24. 
I banish her my bed and company. 
And give her as a prey to law and shame. 
5*oJ-., 2 Hen. VI., 11. 1. 198. 
I'll' great men, glv'n to gluttony and dissolute life, made 
HL prey of the common people. Milton, 11 1st. Eng., vl. 
Both pined amidst their royal state, a prey to Incurable 
despondency. Prcscott, Ferd. and Isa., IL 18. 
4. The act of preying or seizing upon anything, 
(a) Plundering; pillage; robbery; depredation. 
To forage the countrey adloynlng, and to Hue vpon the 
upoyle of them that would not recelue their new doctrine, 
which they In many troupes, and with many preyes, accord- 
ingly performed. Pwnhas, Pilgrimage, p. 389. 
When his Soldiers had gotten great Spoils, and made 
Prey upon the Innocent Countrey People, he commanded 
them to restore It all back again. Baker, Chronicles, p. 11. 
The whole little wood where I sit Is a world of plunder 
and prey. Tennyson, Maud, Iv. 
(6) The act of seizing in order to devour ; seizure, as by a 
carnivorous animal of Its victim. 
Vet dated not his victor to withstand, 
Hut trembled like a lambe fled from the pray. 
Spenser, F. Q.,111. vll. 38. 
Methought a serpent eat my heart away, 
And you sat smiling at his cruel prey. 
Shak., Id. N. D.,11. 2. 160. 
Animal or beast Of prey, a carnivorous, predatory, or 
rapacious animal ; one that feeds on the flesh of other 
animals. Bird Of prey. See Mnfl and llaptores. 
Vulture, kite, 
Raven, and gorcrow, all my birds of prey. 
B. Jonson, Volpone, L 1. 
= Syn. 1. Booty, etc. (see piUagt). 4. Ravin. 
. , 
P'Hage, catch or take animals as game or prey, 
<. prxda, prey: see prey-, n. Cf.in-iflf.&nobs. 
doublet of prey.'} I. intrant. 1. To take booty; 
commit robbery or pillage; seize spoils: gen- 
erally with mi or II/KHI. 
They pray continually to their saint, the common- 
wealth or rather not pray to her. but prey on her. 
.**-, i n,. n . iv., ||. i. 9a 
