| 释义 |
▪ I. precaution, n.|prɪˈkɔːʃən|
[a. F. précaution (16th c.), ad. late L. præcautiōn-em, n. of action from L. præcavēre to guard against beforehand, f. præ pre- + cavēre to beware of; see caution n.]
1. As a quality or mode of action: Caution exercised beforehand to provide against mischief or secure good results; prudent foresight.
1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 128 A putting by or precaution that we should not commit any of those faults. 1658Phillips, Præcaution, a fore-seeing, fore-warning, or preventing. 1782Priestley Corrupt. Chr. I. Pref. 20, I have used all the care and precaution that I could. 1791Burke App. Whigs Wks. VI. 20 An object of precaution to provident minds. 1823F. Clissold Ascent Mt. Blanc 19 The danger in this place defies precaution.
2. An instance or practical application of this; a measure taken beforehand to ward off a possible evil, or to ensure a good result (with a and pl.).
1603Florio Montaigne i. xxvii. 93 Regular and remisse friendship, wherein so many precautions of a long and preallable conversation, are required. 1748Anson's Voy. ii. xi. 249 The Governor..had taken several precautions to prevent us from forcing our way into the harbour. 1791Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest ii, This seemed a necessary precaution. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. II. ix. 331 They believed truly that the security of the state required unusual precautions.
b. spec. a precaution against conception in sexual intercourse; a contraceptive device (usu. in pl.).
1935N. Mitchison We have been Warned iv. 419 What did he do to you? Was it—rape?.. Was he using any precautions? 1941[see it pron. 1 d]. 1968B. Russell Autobiogr. II. ii. 97 From the first we used no precautions. 1969G. Greene Trav. with my Aunt i. x. 98 If we didn't have a child together, it was purely owing to the fact that it was a late love. I took no precautions, none at all. 1975T. Heald Deadline vii. 168 Neither had taken any precautions... Miss Morrison was pregnant.
†3. A caution or caveat given beforehand. rare.
1706Phillips, Precaution, Caution, Warning, or Heed, given or us'd before-hand. 1713Steele Guardian No. 17 ⁋1, I should call my present Precaution A Criticism upon Fornication.
▪ II. preˈcaution, v.
[a. F. précautionner (17th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), f. précaution n.]
†1. trans. To caution (any one) beforehand against something; to preadmonish, forewarn.
1654R. Flecknoe Ten Years Trav. 43 Let the Duke of Guise then be precautioned by the Duke of Alansons ill successe at Antwerp. 1768Woman of Honor I. 13 She precautioned them against receiving implicitly any opinion.
2. To put (any one) upon his guard against something; esp. refl. to be on one's guard against.
1700J. Welwood Mem. Trans. Eng. 252 They had ever the Shovel and Pickaxe in their hands, to precaution themselves against this Misfortune. 1716M. Davies Athen. Brit. II. 316 Which last [Rivalling] both High and Low do Precaution themselves against. 1805W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. III. 63 Precautioned by works of imperishable criticism against any real imprudence.
†3. To mention or say beforehand by way of caution. Obs.
1665Wither Lord's Prayer Preamble, Therefore I have here, to that end, precautioned so much as I conceive may be pertinently extracted from the subject I have now in hand. Ibid. 86, I will precaution a little by the way, concerning that. 1690Norris Beatitudes (1692) 215 The reason..was not (as is already precautioned) any Absolute Merit of theirs.
†4. To take precautions against, guard against (a danger). Obs. rare.
1690Dryden Don Sebast. ii. i. 30 He cannot hurt me; That I precaution'd.
Hence preˈcautioning vbl. n. (in sense 1).
1710Col. Rec. Pennsylv. II. 525 The precautioning of all witnesses. |