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precaution

/prɪˈkɔːʃən/

A measure taken beforehand to prevent harm

From Latin prae (before) + Latin cavere (to be on one's guard).

noun
verb
prae
Latin
AI-inferred
prae
Before; in front of.
cavere
Latin
AI-inferred
cavere
To be on one's guard; to guard against.
Latin past-participle stem
AI-inferred
caut-
Stem used in praecautio, carrying the sense of guarding.
Combined
prae- + caut- → praecautio
Latin combines 'before' with the guarding stem to form a noun for safeguarding.
Late Latin
AI-inferred
praecautio (genitive praecautionem)
A safeguarding; an action noun formed from praecavere.
French
Verified
précaution
Recorded in the 16th century.

from French précaution (16c.) and directly

+1 more source
English
AI-inferred
precaution
Attested around 1600; a measure taken beforehand.
Modern English
precaution
“

Picture a Roman seeing a loose roof tile wobble overhead: the sensible move is to act before it falls. Latin prae meant “before,” while cavere meant “be on your guard”; together they produced praecavere, “guard against beforehand.” Its past-participle stem, caut-, gave Latin praecautio, “a safeguarding,” which reached English through French précaution in the 16th century and is recorded in English around 1600. The family resemblance to caveat is real: both carry the idea of a warning or guard, while caution preserves the same protective impulse. A precaution is essentially a little act of foresight—a guard posted before trouble arrives.

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