1. One who goes before; one who forestalls or anticipates another. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. One who prevents or obstructs; a hinderer; that which hinders; as, a preventer of evils or of disease.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: An auxiliary rope to strengthen a mast. Preventer bolts, or
Preventer plates (Naut.), fixtures connected with preventers to
reënforce other rigging.
— Preventer stay. (Naut.) Same as Preventer, 3.
PREVENTINGLY
Pre*vent"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to prevent or hinder.
PREVENTION
Pre*ven"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prévention.]
1. The act of going, or state of being, before. [Obs.] The greater the distance, the greater the prevention. Bacon.
2. Anticipation; esp., anticipation of needs or wishes; hence, precaution; forethought. [Obs.] Hammond. Shak.
3. The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting. South. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. Shak.