Hypertext Webster Gateway: "precaution"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Precaution \Pre*cau"tion\, n. [F. pr['e]cation, L. praecautio,
fr. praecavere, praecautum, to guard against beforehand; prae
before + cavere be on one's guard. See {Pre-}, and
{Caution}.]
1. Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to
prevent mischief or secure good; as, his life was saved by
precaution.
They [ancient philosophers] treasured up their
supposed discoveries with miserable precaution. --J.
H. Newman.
2. A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good
or success; a precautionary act; as, to take precautions
against accident.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Precaution \Pre*cau"tion\, v. t. [Cf. F. pr['e]cautionner.]
1. To warn or caution beforehand. --Locke.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
precaution
n 1: a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or
damage or injury etc. [syn: {safeguard}]
2: the trait of practicing caution in advance
3: judiciousness in avoiding harm or danger; "he exercised
caution in opening the door"; "he handled the vase with
care" [syn: {caution}, {care}, {forethought}]
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