precaution
/pɹiːˈkɔ.ʃən/
UK: /pɹiːˈkɔː.ʃən/
PɹIːKƆ · ʃən (2 syllables)
English
Noun Top 10,918
American (Lessac)
(medium)
Female
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Definition
Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent misfortune or to secure good.
Etymology
From French précaution, Latin praecautio, from praecavere, praecautum (“to guard against beforehand”); prae (“before”) + cavere (“be on one's guard”). See pre-, and caution.
Example Sentences
- "his life was saved by precaution"
- "July 2, 1826, John Henry Newman, The Philosophical Temper, First Enjoined by the Gospel The ancient philosophers treasured up their supposed discoveries with miserable precaution."
- "to take precautions against risks of accident"
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