Discouraged or prevented someone from doing something, usually through fear or doubt.
From Latin 'deterrere,' combining 'de-' (away from) + 'terrere' (to frighten or scare). The 'terror' root is still visible—deterrence literally means 'scared away.'
The Cold War strategy of 'mutual assured destruction' was essentially nuclear deterrence—the idea was so fearsome that no one would dare start a war, making the weapons themselves a kind of anti-war tool.
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