Pre*vent"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈventif.] 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]
Pre*vent"ive, n. That which prevents, hinders, or obstructs; that which
intercepts access; in medicine, something to prevent disease; a
prophylactic.
Pre*vent"ive*ly, adv. In a preventive manner.
Pre*ver"te*bral (?), a. (Anat.) Situated immediately in front, or on
the ventral side, of the vertebral column; prespinal.
Pre"vi*ous (?), a. [L. praevius going before, leading the way; prae
before + via the way. See Voyage.] Going before in time; being or
happening before something else; antecedent; prior; as, previous
arrangements; a previous illness.
The dull sound . . . previous to the storm, Rolls o'er the
muttering earth.
Thomson.
Previous question. (Parliamentary Practice) See under Question, and
compare Closure. -- Previous to, before; -- often used adverbially for
previously. "Previous to publication." M. Arnold. "A policy . . . his
friends had advised previous to 1710." J. H. Newman.
Syn. -- Antecedent; preceding; anterior; prior; foregoing; former.
Pre"vi*ous*ly, adv. Beforehand; antecedently; as, a plan previously
formed.
Pre"vi*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being previous; priority or
antecedence in time.
Pre*vise" (?), v. t. [L. praevisus, p. p. of praevidere to foresee;
prae before + videre to see. See Vision.] 1. To foresee. [R.]