English
preventive
Preventive comes from New Latin praeventīvus.
- New Latinc. 1500–1900praeventīvus
- Englishearliest quotation 1650preventive
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- New Latinc. 1500–1900praeventīvus
- Englishearliest quotation 1650preventive
Earliest quotation: 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […]: “Physick is either curative or preventive.”
Formed from prevent + -ive
Latin praeveniō ‘to anticipate’
Latin praeventus ‘anticipated’
Middle English preventen ‘anticipate’
English prevent
Every English word from New Latin praeventīvus
Today it means
adj Preventing, hindering, or acting as an obstacle to.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / New Latin praeventīvus / preventive