Hypertext Webster Gateway: "preservative"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Preservative \Pre*serv"a*tive\, a. [Cf. F. pr['e]servatif.]
Having the power or quality of preserving; tending to
preserve, or to keep from injury, decay, etc.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Preservative \Pre*serv"a*tive\, n.
That which preserves, or has the power of preserving; a
presevative agent.
To wear tablets as preservatives against the plague.
--Bacon.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
preservative
adj : tending or having the power to preserve; "the timbers should
be treated with a preservative"
n : a chemical compound that is added to protect against decay
or decomposition
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