'freeze-preventing' originates from Modern English, specifically the combination of 'freeze' and 'preventing', where 'freeze' comes from Old English 'frēosan' meaning 'to freeze' and 'preventing' derives ultimately from Latin 'praevenīre' (via Old French 'prevenir') meaning 'to come before, to prevent'.

'freeze' changed from Old English 'frēosan' to Middle English forms (e.g. 'frosen') and eventually became the modern English 'freeze'; 'prevent' evolved from Latin 'praevenīre' to Old French 'prevenir' to Middle English 'preventen' and then modern 'prevent'; the compound 'freeze-preventing' is a modern English compound formed from these elements.

Initially, the separate roots meant 'to become rigid from cold' (freeze) and 'to come before/obstruct' (prevent); over time the combined compound came to mean specifically 'serving to prevent freezing'.