'prevention' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'praeventio,' where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'venire' meant 'to come.'

'praeventio' transformed into the Old French word 'prevention,' and eventually became the modern English word 'prevention' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'the act of coming before,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the act of stopping something from happening.'