prevenge

Etymology
Punning.

Noun

 * 1)  The act of taking, or an action taken against someone or something, ostensibly in retaliation for another act that has not yet been committed; pre-emptive action characterized as revenge.
 * 2) * 2008, Duncan Campbell-Smith, Follow the Money: a History of the Audit Commission, Penguin UK (pages not numbered):
 * They would go for what was jokingly tagged ' pre-venge '.
 * 1) * 2013, Jeff Ayers, Long Overdue, StoneHouse Ink, Chapter 3 (pages not numbered):
 * You aren't planning prevenge, are you? . . . You know, prevenge, the state of creating revenge before the need exists.
 * 1) * 2013, Jeff Ayers, Long Overdue, StoneHouse Ink, Chapter 3 (pages not numbered):
 * You aren't planning prevenge, are you? . . . You know, prevenge, the state of creating revenge before the need exists.

Usage notes

 * According to The Language Report, the word has been in use since the late 1990s.