cautel

C3A1U1T1E1L1
/ˈkɔːtəl/

noun

deceit

OriginLatin cautēla →
Scrabble 8
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Meanings

nouncautel (countable and uncountable, plural cautels)

plural cautels

  1. countableobsoleteuncountabledeceit

    Perhaps he loves you now, And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his will

    c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], pages 14-16
  2. countableobsoleteuncountablecaution; prudence; wariness

    Here come institution, by your blasphemous sacrifice, in all cautels and provisions of the Mass

    a. 1589, William Fulke, Confutation of the Rhemish Testament
  3. countableuncountableChristianityA traditional caution or written direction about the proper manner of administering the sacraments.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
prudence

Origin

  1. Latincautēla
  2. Englishcautel

From Latin cautēla, from cautus, past participle of caveō.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Tulcea
Cite this entry
APA

cautel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cautel

MLA

“cautel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cautel. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cautel,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cautel.

Source: cautel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.