Abbreviation of previous.

The quality or condition of being prevalent; wide extension or spread.

(transitive) To stop (an outcome); to keep from (doing something). / (intransitive, now rare) To take preventative measures. / (obsolete, transitive) To come before; to precede.

(intransitive) To be superior in strength, dominance, influence or frequency; to have or gain the advantage over others; to have the upper hand; to outnumber others.

(now rare) Deviation from what is right or correct. / Evasion of the truth. / A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office.

(not comparable) Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order. / (informal) Premature; acting or occurring too soon.

(informal, UK) An existing criminal record (short for "previous convictions") / (informal, UK) A track record of similar behaviour.

(now archaic, with present-tense constructions) First; beforehand, in advance. / (with past-tense constructions) At an earlier time. / (television) Recapitulating the preceding episodes of a series.

Capable of being prevented.

Something that can be prevented.