different between prophylactic vs therapeutic

English

Etymology

From Latin, from Ancient Greek ??? (pró, “before”) + ??????? (phúlaxis, “a watching, guarding”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p??f??lækt?k/
• Hyphenation: pro?phy?lac?tic
• Rhymes: -ækt?k

Noun

prophylactic (plural prophylactics)

1. A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
   1. (US, specifically) A prophylactic condom.
      • 1977, Human Life Center, International Review of Natural Family Planning, Human Life Center, St. John's University, page 2:

        It is not clear whether such education is to be directed to homosexuals (for whom prophylactics are not a contraceptive) or to heterosexuals as well (for whom prophylactics are a contraceptive).

      • 1994, Mary Louise Roberts, Civilization Without Sexes: Reconstructing Gender in Postwar France, 1917–1927, University of Chicago Press, page 96:

        Given the widespread use of coitus interruptus and male prophylactics as contraceptive practices in France […]

      • 2000, Peter Parnell and John Irving, The Cider House Rules: Here in St. Cloud's, Dramatists Play Service, Inc., page 46:

        Some men put the prophylactic on just the tip of the penis: this is a mistake, because the prophylactic will come off.

2. (figuratively) Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences.

Translations

Adjective

prophylactic (comparative more prophylactic, superlative most prophylactic)

1. Serving to prevent or protect against an undesired effect, especially disease or pregnancy

Translations

Derived terms

• prophylactically

Related terms

• prophylaxis

Interlingua

Adjective

prophylactic (not comparable)

1. prophylactic, preventive

English

Alternative forms

• therapeutick (obsolete)

Etymology

From New Latin therapeuticus (“curing, healing”), from Ancient Greek ???????????? (therapeutikós, “attentive, helpful, obliging, curative”), from ?????????? (therapeut?s, “one who waits on another, an attendant”), from ???????? (therapeú?, “I wait on, attend, serve, cure”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?????pju?t?k/, enPR: th?r'?-pyo?o?t?k

Adjective

therapeutic (comparative more therapeutic, superlative most therapeutic)

1. Of, or relating to therapy.
2. Having a positive effect on the body or mind.
   • 2009, Isha McKenzie-Mavinga, Black Issues in the Therapeutic Process

     His music is very therapeutic when you listen to it.

   • 1725, Isaac Watts, Logick, or The Right Use of Reason in the Enquiry After Truth With a Variety of Rules to Guard

     Medicine is justly distributed into prophylactic, or the art of preserving health, and therapeutic, or the art of restoring it.

Synonyms

• therapeutical
• curative
• remedial

Related terms

• therapeutical
• therapist
• therapy

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

therapeutic (plural therapeutics)

1. (medicine) A therapeutic agent

Further reading

• therapeutic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• therapeutic in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• therapeutic at OneLook Dictionary Search

Interlingua

Adjective

therapeutic (not comparable)

1. therapeutic (pertaining to therapy)

Related terms

• therapia