Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) Previous caution or care; preparation made in advance for trouble or emergency; as, his life was saved by precaution.

2. (n.) A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act; as, to take precautions against accident.

3. (v. t.) To warn or caution beforehand.

4. (v. t.) To take precaution against.