prevenance

See also: prévenance

English

Etymology

French prévenance.

Noun

prevenance (countable and uncountable, plural prevenances)

1. (uncountable) A going before; anticipation in sequence or order.
   • 1779, William George Ward, “Free Will”, in The Dublin Review:

     The law of prevenance is simply the well-known law of phenomenal sequence.

   • 1876, “Mr. Mill on Causation”, in The Dublin Review, volume 79, page 74:

     We have argued then, that mankind not only have an idea of causality, distinct from the idea of prevenance; but that they have a conviction that causality exists among phenomena , and not mere prevenance.

   • 2009, Merold Westphal, Overcoming Onto-Theology: Toward a Postmodern Christian Faith:

     There would be no responsibility without this prior coming (prevenance) of the trace, or if autonomy were first or absolute.

2. (uncountable) Solicitousness; thoughtfulness; complaisance.
   • 1835, Marguerite Gardiner, The Two Friends, page 149:

     So reasoned Arlington, during the time of dinner; and though he would have willingly risked wounding Lady Walmer's feelings, in preference to offending Emily, he had not courage to pay the latter any of the countless and nameless acts of prevenance, which she had been for weeks accustomed to receive from him.

   • 1838, Catharine Mary Howard, Reminiscences for my children, page 260:

     Among the higher circles of society this latter quality prevails very generally, while the gentlemen have more prevenance towards ladies.

   • 1852, Anna Atkins, The perils of fashion, page 261:

     It was a proposal that, in the happiness it shed over her, Lady Aviston thought must bring a blessing to the young thing who had so timely interposed the solace of prevenance and affection.

   • 2009, Arthur Ruhl, “The War Correspondent”, in Francis J. Reynolds, Allen L. Churchill, Francis Trevelyan Miller, editor, The Story of the Great War:

     The Royal Govenment cannot be held responsible for manifestations of a private nature, such as newspaper articles and the peaceful work of societies—manifestations which occur in almost all countries as a matter of course, and which, as a general rule, escape official control—all the less in that the Royal Govenment when solving a whole series of questions which came up between Servia and Austria-Hungary has displayed a great readiness to treat prevenance, and in this way succeeded in settling the greater number to the advantage of the progress of the two neighboring countries.

3. (countable) An act of kindness; a courteous or thoughtful gesture.
   • 1818, Thomas Brown, Bath, a satirical novel, page 184:

     Married meetings are now of a far different complexion; and although there is certainly will enough on both sides, yet the preventions, or preventatives, or even the prevenances, are not to be found upon the poet's plan.

   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, page 667:

     It was the early days of their marriage over again: the same good humour, prevenances, merriment, and artless confidence and regard.

   • 1889, Sir James MacPherson Le Moine, Maple Leaves, page 127:

     He is full of prevenances for the ladies, accompanies my mother on the streets, dines occasionally with my father.

Further reading

• OED