prevention

1. (medicine) Any measure intended to limit health-related risks (such as information campaigns, vaccination, early diagnosis etc.).Examples: "Whatever cures are known, and preventions that are practiced now, could have been common knowledge centuries ago."

2. (obsolete) The act of going, or state of being, before.Examples: "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."

3. (obsolete) Anticipation; especially, anticipation of needs, wishes, hazards and risksExamples: "[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."