PREVENT'IVE, adjective Tending to hinder; hindering the access of; as a medicine preventive of disease. PREVENT'IVE, noun That which prevents; that which intercepts the access or approach of. Temperance and exercise are excellent preventives of debility and languor. 1. An antidote previously taken. A medicine may be taken as a preventive of disease.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI