Syn. — Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious; equivocal. — Precarious, Uncertain. Precarious in stronger than uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari, it first signified "granted to entreaty," and, hence, "wholly dependent on the will of another." Thus it came to express the highest species of uncertainty, and is applied to such things as depend wholly on future casualties. — Pre*ca"ri*ous*ly, adv. — Pre*ca"ri*ous*ness, n.
PRECATION
Pre*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. precatio.]
Defn: The act of praying; supplication; entreaty. Cotton.
PRECATIVE; PRECATORY Pre"ca*tive, Pre"ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. precativus, precatorius, fr. precari to pray. See Precarious.]
Defn: Suppliant; beseeching. Bp. Hopkins. Precatory words (Law), words of recommendation, request, entreaty, wish, or expectation, employed in wills, as distinguished from express directions; — in some cases creating a trust. Jarman.
PRECAUTION Pre*cau"tion, n. Etym: [F. précation, L. praecautio, fr. praecavere, praecautum, to guard against beforehand; prae before + cavere be on one's guard. See Pre-, and Caution.]
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. Etym: [Cf. F. précautionner.]
1. To warn or caution beforehand. Locke.