prophylactic

(prō′fə lak′tik)

adjective

preventive or protective; esp., preventing or guarding against disease

Origin: Gr prophylaktikos < prophylassein, to be on guard < pro-, before (see pro-) + phylassein, to guard < phylax, guard

noun

See prophylactic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Acting to defend against or prevent something, especially disease; protective.

noun

Origin:

Origin: French prophylactique

Origin: , from Greek prophulaktikos

Origin: , from prophulassein, to take precautions against

Origin: : pro-, before; see pro-²

Origin: + phulassein, to protect (from phulax, guard)

Related Forms:

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