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.
J. H.
Newman. 2. A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act; as, to
take precautions against accident.
Precaution
(Pre*cau"tion), v. t. [Cf. F. précautionner.]
1. To warn or caution beforehand. Locke.
2. To take precaution against. [R.] Dryden.
Precautional
(Pre*cau"tion*al) a. Precautionary.
Precautionary
(Pre*cau"tion*a*ry) a. Of or pertaining to precaution, or precautions; as, precautionary
signals.
Precautious
(Pre*cau"tious) a. Taking or using precaution; precautionary. — Pre*cau"tious*ly, adv. —
Pre*cau"*tious*ness, n.
Precedaneous
(Pre`ce*da"ne*ous) a. Preceding; antecedent; previous. [Obs.] Hammond.
Precede
(Pre*cede") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preceding.] [L. praecedere, praecessum;
prae before + cedere to go, to be in motion: cf. F. préceder. See Pre-, and Cede.]
1. To go before in order of time; to occur first with relation to anything. "Harm precedes not sin." Milton.
2. To go before in place, rank, or importance.
3. To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; — used with by or with before the instrumental
object. [R.]
It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration.
Kent. Precedence
(Pre*ced"ence Pre*ced"en*cy) n. [Cf. F. précédence. See Precede.]
1. The act or state of preceding or going before in order of time; priority; as, one event has precedence
of another.
2. The act or state of going or being before in rank or dignity, or the place of honor; right to a more honorable
place; superior rank; as, barons have precedence of commoners.
Which of them [the different desires] has the precedency in determining the will to the next action?
Locke. Syn. — Antecedence; priority; preëminence; preference; superiority.
Precedent
(Pre*ced"ent) a. [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of praecedere: cf. F. précédent. See Precede.]
Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services. Shak. "A precedent injury." Bacon.
Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a
right.
Precedent
(Prec"e*dent) n.
