prevenient

From Latin praeveniēns

• (UK) IPA^(key): /prᵻˈviːniənt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /prɪˈviː.ni.ənt/, /prəˈvi.ni.ənt/
• Hyphenation: pre‧ve‧ni‧ent

prevenient (comparative more prevenient, superlative most prevenient)

1. (formal) Relating to prevenience; antecedent; preceding; coming or happening before.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 3–8:

     Prevenient Grace deſcending had remov'd / The ſtonie from thir hearts, and made new fleſh / Regenerat grow inſtead, that ſighs now breath'd / Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer / Inſpir'd, and wing'd for Heav'n with ſpeedier flight / Then loudeſt Oratorie: […]

   • 1979, Cormac McCarthy, Suttree, Random House, page 22:

     They drank and bet and muttered in an air of electric transiency, old men in gaitered sleeves galvanized from some stained sepia, posting time at cards prevenient of their dimly augured doom.

2. (theology) Of grace: preceding repentance or faith and preparing the soul for salvation.
   • 1626, IOHN GVMBLEDEN, Mr of Artes., GODS GREAT MERCY ΤΟ ΜΑΝΚINDE IN JESVS CHRIST. A SERMON PREACHED AT Pauls Crosse, March 18: being Palme Sunday. 1626., page 24:

     So that in euery place we may see the mercy of god, eyther prevenient, or concomitant, eyther moving him to pitie us, or manifested in pitieing