Pre*cau"tion (?), n. [F.
précation, 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.
Pre*cau"tion, v. t. [Cf. F.
précautionner.] 1. To warn or
caution beforehand. Locke.
2. To take precaution against. [R.]
Dryden.