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preventive |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Preventive \Pre*vent"ive\, n. That which prevents, hinders, or obstructs; that which intercepts access in medicine, something to prevent disease; a prophylactic. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Preventive \Pre*vent"ive\, a. [Cf. F. pr['e]ventif.] 1. Going before preceding. [Obs.] Any previous counsel or preventive understanding. --Cudworth. 2. Tending to defeat or hinder; obviating; preventing the access of as a medicine preventive of disease. Physic is either curative or preventive. --Sir T. Browne. {Preventive service}, the duty performed by the armed police in guarding the coast against smuggling. [Eng] From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: preventive adj 1: preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease; "preventive medicine"; "vaccines are prophylactic"; "a prophylactic drug" [syn: {preventative}, {prophylactic}] 2: tending to prevent or hinder [syn: {preventative}] [ant: {permissive}] 3: tending to ward off "the swastika...a very ancient prophylactic symbol occurring among all peoples"- Victor Schultze [syn: {cautionary}, {prophylactic}] n 1: something that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease; "the docotr recommended several preventatives" [syn: {preventative}, {prophylactic}] 2: something that impedes or is burdensome [syn: {hindrance}, {hitch}, {preventative}, {encumbrance}, {incumbrance}, {interference}] 3: an agent or device intended to prevent conception [syn: {contraceptive}, {preventative}, {contraceptive device}, {prophylactic device}, {birth control device}]
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