The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Preservation \Pres`er*va"tion\, n. [Cf. F. pr['e]servation.]
   The act or process of preserving, or keeping safe; the state
   of being preserved, or kept from injury, destruction, or
   decay; security; safety; as, preservation of life, fruit,
   game, etc.; a picture in good preservation.
   [1913 Webster]

         Give us particulars of thy preservation. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

preservation
    n 1: the activity of protecting something from loss or danger
         [syn: preservation, saving]
    2: the condition of being (well or ill) preserved
    3: a process that saves organic substances from decay
    4: an occurrence of improvement by virtue of preventing loss or
       injury or other change [syn: conservation, preservation]