Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRE-VEN'TION, n. [Fr.]

1. The act of going before. [Obs.] – Bacon.
2. Preoccupation; anticipation. [Little used.] – Hammond.
3. The act of hindering; hinderance; obstruction of access or approach. Prevention of sin is one of the greatest mercies God can vouchsafe. – South.
4. Prejudice; prepossession; a French sense, but not in use in English. – Dryden.