precaution
UK[prɪˈkɔːʃn]US[prɪˈkɔːʃn]
n
An action taken in advance to prevent something dangerous or unpleasant from happening.
n
Care taken to avoid a possible problem or accident.
Morpheme Breakdown
pre
caution
pre
before
caution
care
Etymology
The word "precaution" is a logical compound built from Latin elements. It entered English in the early 17th century from the French précaution, which itself derives from the Late Latin praecautio. This Latin noun was formed from the verb praecavere, meaning "to guard against beforehand," a combination of the prefix prae- ("before") and the verb cavere ("to be on guard, beware"). The core semantic logic is transparent and has remained stable: an action of taking care (caution) exercised in advance (pre-) to forestall potential harm. This etymological journey from the literal Latin sense of "prior guarding" to the modern abstract concept of preventive measures perfectly illustrates the word's enduring purpose.
Analysis
Structure: pre (before) + caution (care)
- pre: A prefix of Latin origin (from Latin prae- meaning "before"). It functions as a modifier indicating temporal or spatial priority.
- caution: A noun of Latin origin (from Latin cautio, from cavēre meaning "to beware, guard against"). It functions as the core root denoting care, wariness, or a warning.
Examples
As a precaution, all passengers must fasten their seatbelts during takeoff and landing.
The company took the precaution of backing up its data on a separate server.
It's a sensible precaution to lock your doors at night.