'preservative' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'praeservativus,' where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'servare' meant 'to keep or save.'

'praeservativus' transformed into the French word 'préservatif,' and eventually became the modern English word 'preservative' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to keep or save before,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.