Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Prevention \Pre*ven"tion\, n. [Cf. F. pr['e]vention.]
   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.

   4. Prejudice; prepossession. [A Gallicism] --Dryden.

Source : WordNet®

prevention
     n : the act of preventing; "there was no bar against leaving";
         "money was allocated to study the cause and prevention of
         influenza" [syn: {bar}]