2 entries under this word

Prophylactic

Prŏph'y-lăc'tic, n.

noun

n. [Fr. prophylactique. See supra.] (Med.) A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive. Coxe.

Proph-y-lac'tic or Proph-y-lac'tic-al, a.

adjective

a. [Gr. προφυλακτικός, from προφυλάσσειν, to guard against, from πρό, before, and φυλάσσειν, to guard.] (Med.) Defending from disease; preventive.