preservation

From Old French preservacion, from Medieval Latin preservatio.

• (US) IPA^(key): /pɹɛ.zɝˈveɪ.ʃən/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

preservation (countable and uncountable, plural preservations)

1. The act of preserving; care to preserve; act of keeping from destruction, decay or any ill.
   • William Shakespeare, Henry VIII

     Nature does not require
     Her times of preservation, which, perforce
     I give my tendence to

   • Ecclesiastes. xxxiv. 16

     The eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, his is ther mighty protection, a preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling.

   • Sir John Davies

     Every seneseless thing by nature's light
     Doth preservation seek, destruction shun

   • John Locke

     Our allwise maker has put into man the uneasiness of hunger, thirst and other natural desires, to determine their wills for the preservation of themselves, and the continuation of their species.

• varentropies