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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

precautionary en · ADJ

Pronunciation

Etymology

Etymology tree English precaution Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusder. Middle English -arie English -ary English precautionary From precaution + -ary.

Meanings

  1. Of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution.
    • Fearing attack on the northern ports by the English, he even took precautionary measures by strengthening the defense of Shan-hai-kuan 山海關 and Ch‘in-huang-tao 秦皇島. 1941, Huang Yen-yü, “Viceroy Yeh Ming-ch‘ên and the Canton Episode (1856-1861)”, in Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, volume 6, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard-Yenching Institute, →ISSN, →OCLC, pages 46–47:
    • The port cities were quarantined as a precautionary measure, though no cases of the disease had been found.
    • Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, issued a statement in support of the raids and signed a proclamation Friday to activate the National Guard as a precautionary measure “in anticipation of anti-ICE protests” this weekend. 2025 June 15, Nicole Acevedo, “How a city in Nebraska is recovering after the state's largest worksite immigration raid”, in NBC News:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
more precautionary Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most precautionary Degree=Sup lexicographic

Deriveds

precautionarily · nonprecautionary

Translations (7)

it cautelare (of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution) · es precautorio (of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution) · pt precaucionário (of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution) · bg предпазен (of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution) · de vorsorglich (of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution) · fr précautionneux (of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution) · it precauzionale (of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution)

precautionary en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

Etymology tree English precaution Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusder. Middle English -arie English -ary English precautionary From precaution + -ary.

Meanings

  1. (obsolete) A precaution.
    • Thou seest, Belford, by the above precautionaries, that I forget nothing. 1748, [Samuel Richardson], Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
precautionaries Number=Plur lexicographic