prevention, n. obstruction, thwarting, interruption, hindrance, preclusion, obviation, interception.

preventive, a. deterrent, prophylactic, obviating.—­n. prophylactic.

previous, a. former, foregoing, antecedent, prior, anterior.

prey, n. spoil, loot, plunder, booty; victim, quarry, captive; depredation, ravage, spoliation.

preying upon others. predatory.

prick, n. goad, spur, gad; sting, compunction, qualm; puncture.

prick, v. puncture, pierce, perforate; goad, spur, incite; sting, wound, hurt.

pricking, a. poignant, sharp, piercing, stinging.

prickle, n. thorn, spine, barb.

prickly, a. thorny, spiny, brambly, briery.

pride, n. self-esteem, self-respect; haughtiness, arrogance, hauteur, superciliousness, contumely, conceit, vanity, priggishness, lordliness, imperiousness.  Antonyms:  humility, shame, self-abasement, modesty, lowliness.

priestly, a. sacerdotal.

priestly garments. vestments, canonicals.  See canonicals.

prim, a. formal, precise, demure, prudish.

prime minister. premier.

primer, n. hornbook.

primitive, a. pristine, primordial, primeval, primal; antique, quaint, old-fashioned; original, radical, primary.

principal, a. leading, chief, cardinal, paramount, main, foremost.

printing, n. typography; (for the blind) Braille.

prior, a. previous, former, antedecent, anterior.

priority, n. antecedence, anteriority, precedence.

prison, n. penitentiary, bridewell, jail, house of correction, clink, bastille.—­v. imprison, incarcerate.  Associated Words:  mittimus, commit, commitment, turnkey, warden, remand, prisoner, convict.

privacy, n. retirement, seclusion; retreat, solitude, concealment, secrecy, secret.

private, a. personal, individual; secret, secluded, covert, sequestered, hidden, unrevealed.

privates, n. pl. genitals.  See sexual organs.

privation, n. deprivation, degradation; destitution, poverty, need; absence.

privilege, n. liberty, right, franchise, prerogative, immunity, advantage.

privy, n. water-closet, backhouse, jakes.

prize, n. meed, guerdon, palm, trophy, laurels, reward, premium, sweepstakes.

prize, v. value, esteem.

prize-fighter, n. pugilist.

prize-fighting, n. pugilism.

probability, n. likelihood, verisimilitude, credibleness.

probable, a. likely, credible, reasonable.

probe, v. investigate, examine.

proboscis, n. snout, trunk; haustellum (sucking proboscis).

procession, n. parade, cavalcade, cortege, train, retinue, file.

proclaim, v.  See announce.

procure, v. get, obtain, acquire.

prod, n. goad.

prodigal, a. wasteful, extravagant, lavish, profuse.