'preventer' originates from the Latin word 'praeventor', where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'venire' meant 'to come'.

'praeventor' transformed into the Old French word 'preventeur', and eventually became the modern English word 'preventer'.

Initially, it meant 'one who comes before to stop', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person or thing that prevents something from happening'.