cautio

noun

cau·tio

ˈkȯshēˌō,

ˈkau̇tēˌō

plural cautiones

-shēˈōˌnēz,

-tēˈōˌnās

Roman, Scots, & civil law

: an oral or written agreement to indemnify : guaranty:

: a written assurance given as evidence of the receipt of money or as an acknowledgment of the making of a promise or of an existing state of affairs

: an agreement by one furnishing security, a pledge, or a mortgage

: an agreement often imposed by a judge or magistrate whereby one guarantees to protect another from loss or harm caused by the guarantor or a third person for whom the guarantor is responsible or whereby one guarantees payment or performance of an obligation of another