precaution

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.

noun

1. Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent misfortune or to secure good
   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.
2. A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act.
   to take precautions against risks of accident

verb

1. (transitive) To warn or caution beforehand.
2. (transitive, rare) To take precaution against.