cautel

noun

plural -s

1

obsolete

a

: trick

b

: trickery

no soil nor cautel doth besmirch the virtue of his will

—Shakespeare

2

obsolete

a

: caution

b

: precaution

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French cautele, from Latin cautela caution, precaution, from cautus, past participle of cavēre to be on one's guard

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