Designed to prevent something undesirable from happening; serving as protection against future problems or diseases.
From Latin 'praeventus', past participle of 'praevenire' meaning 'to come before' or 'to anticipate', from 'prae-' (before) + 'venire' (to come). Extended to medical use in the 17th century.
Preventative medicine embodies the wisdom that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - it's often cheaper and less painful to stop problems before they start than to fix them afterward. This concept has expanded beyond healthcare to cybersecurity, maintenance, and even international diplomacy.
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