What does "prevention" mean?

Prevention: Anticipation; esp., anticipation of needs or wishes; hence, precaution; forethought. [Obs.] Hammond. Shak.

Additional senses

  1. 2.The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting. South. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. Shak.
  2. 3.Prejudice; prepossession. [A Gallicism] Dryden.

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