Prearming

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Equipping oneself or a group with weapons or defenses before any actual threat or conflict has begun
2. Supplying weapons, ammunition or protective gear ahead of time so readiness exists before it is required
3. Readying a device or system with its firing or activation mechanism set beforehand, in advance of use

Etymology: "Prearming" is the present participle and gerund of "prearm," a verb built from the prefix "pre-," meaning "before," and the familiar verb "arm." To prearm something is to equip it with its weapon, or make it ready to fire or detonate, before the moment it is actually needed. The prefix does the work here: it simply places the arming action earlier in time than the usual sequence of events. The pattern is a plain one. English has long attached "pre-" to verbs to describe readiness ahead of use, as in "preheat" or "prepay," and "prearm" follows the same model. Its logic is literal rather than figurative, so the word tells you exactly what happens and when.

Antonyms: disarming