précaution — [ prekosjɔ̃ ] n. f. • mil. XVIe; lat. præcautio, de præcavere « prendre garde » 1 ♦ Disposition prise pour éviter un mal ou en atténuer l effet. ⇒ garantie, mesure, prévention, protection. Précautions contre les maladies. Ce serait une excellente … Encyclopédie Universelle
precaution — Precaution. s. f. Prevoyance dont on se sert pour ne pas tomber en quelque inconvenient, & pour éviter quelque mal. Precaution necessaire. precaution inutile. prendre ses precautions. apporter toutes les precautions necessaires en une chose. user … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
precaution — pre‧cau‧tion [prɪˈkɔːʆn ǁ ˈkɒː ] noun [countable] something done to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous happening: • All companies with limited resources must take precautions to limit their liability. • As a precaution, the company… … Financial and business terms
Precaution — Pre*cau tion, v. t. [Cf. F. pr[ e]cautionner.] 1. To warn or caution beforehand. Locke. [1913 Webster] 2. To take precaution against. [R.] Dryden. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
precaution — (n.) c.1600, from Fr. précaution (16c.), from L.L. praecautionem (nom. praecautio), from pp. stem of L. praecavere to guard against beforehand, from prae before (see PRE (Cf. pre )) + cavere to be one s own guard (see CAUTION (Cf. caution … Etymology dictionary
precaution — [pri kô′shən] n. [Fr précaution < LL praecautio < L praecautus, pp. of praecavere < prae , before (see PRE ) + cavere, to take care: for IE base see HEAR] 1. care taken beforehand; caution used in advance 2. a measure taken beforehand… … English World dictionary
precaution — I noun alertness, anticipation, attention, care, carefulness, caution, circumspection, forearming, foresight, forethought, guarantee, guardedness, heed, needfulness, premunition, preventive measures, prior measure, protection, providence,… … Law dictionary
precaution — [n] carefulness; preventative measure anticipation, canniness, care, caution, circumspection, discreetness, discretion, foresight, forethought, insurance, protection, providence, provision, prudence, regard, safeguard, safety measure, wariness;… … New thesaurus
precaution — ► NOUN 1) a measure taken in advance to prevent something undesirable from happening. 2) (precautions) informal contraception. DERIVATIVES precautionary adjective. ORIGIN Latin, from praecavere beware of in advance … English terms dictionary
précaution — (pré kô sion ; en vers, de quatre syllabes) s. f. 1° Ce qu on fait par prévoyance, pour éviter un mal. • Borée et le Soleil virent un voyageur Qui s était muni par bonheur Contre le mauvais temps ; on entrait dans l automne, Quand la… … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
