forecaution

plural forecautions

1. archaicuncountableCaution in advance; precaution.

   They had at their disposal all the terrible enginery of secret murder, against which no human forecaution can effectually guard.

   1881, Frank Leslie, Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly, page 644

   2 more examples

   Again, on the contrary, however much forecaution may have been taken in preparing the patient for an operation, some general disturbance follows, […]

   1882, Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, Saint Bartholomew's Hospital Reports, Smith, Elder & Co., page 405

   […] that as nature had not given intelligence to these creatures, they cannot have the means of taking counsel together, of exercising forethought or forecaution, nor of learning any thing, […]

   1845, David Badham, Insect Life, William Blackwood and Sons, page 101

2. archaiccountableA measure taken in advance to disallow misfortune; a precaution.

   […] to cure from the latter or effect, by a forecaution and prevention of its increaſe?

   1662, Jan Baptist van Helmont, Oriatrike, Or, Phyſick Refined, the Common Errors Therein Refuted, and the Whole Art Reformed & Rectified, page 394

   1 more example

   […] the result is worse, and serious breakage has occurred before the job was finished, due to settling of legs because no forecaution was taken to prevent it.

   1904, The Metal Worker, Plumber, and Steam Fitter, page 50

present singular third person forecautions · participle present forecautioning · participle past forecautioned · past forecautioned

1. transitiveTo warn or caution in advance.

   By Solomon, the Holy Spirit hath shewn and forecautioned us, saying, "And though they suffered torments in the sight of men, their hope is full of immortality. […]"

   1839, Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus, The Treatises of Caecilius Cyprianus, page 298