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Going before; preceding. [Obs.] Any previous counsel or preventive understanding. Cudworth.

In a preventive manner.

That which defends; a safeguard. Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensive. Bacon. To be on the defensive, To stand on the defensive, to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to aggression or attack.

Going before; preceding; hence, preventive. "Prevenient grace descending." Milton.

That which prevents; -- incorrectly used instead of preventive.

A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.

Defending or preserving from disease; preventive. Coxe.

se; the observance of the rules necessary for the preservation of health; preservative or preventive treatment.

ift recourse of flushing blood." Spenser. Unto my first I will have my recourse. Chaucer. Preventive physic . . . preventeth sickness in the healthy, or the recourse thereof in the valetudinary. Sir T. Browne.

Inoculation with the syphilitic virus, especially when employed as a preventive measure, like vaccination.

l, vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance; formerly, a watching or guarding by night. Shepherds keeping watch by night. Milton. All the long night their mournful watch they keep. Addison.

omen formed in the United States in 1874, for the advancement of temperance by organizing preventive, educational, evangelistic, social, and legal work.