Precaution /(?)/

Pre·cau·tion

Precaution

n.
  1. Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent mischief or secure good; as, his life was saved by precaution.
    They [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; as, to take precautions against accident.

Precaution

v. t.
  1. To warn or caution beforehand.
  2. To take precaution against. [R.]