Noun

(obsolete) The act of going, or state of being, before.

* Francis Bacon

The greater the distance, the greater the prevention .

(obsolete) Anticipation; especially, anticipation of needs, wishes, hazards and risks; hence, precaution; forethought.

(Hammond)

(Shakespeare)

The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting.

(South)

* Shakespeare

Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention .

Noun

(en noun)

A hindrance; that which impedes or hinders progress.

* Shakespeare

Thus far into the bowels of the land / Have we marched on without impediment .

* {{quote-book

, year=1818 , author=Mary Shelley , title=Frankenstein , chapter=2 citation , passage=I had gazed upon the fortifications and impediments that seemed to keep human beings from entering the citadel of nature, and rashly and ignorantly I had repined.}}

Working in a noisy factory left him with a slight hearing impediment .

(chiefly, in the plural) Baggage, especially that of an army; impedimenta