#864. Caution. -- N. caution; cautiousness &c. adj.; discretion, prudence, cautel|, heed, circumspection, calculation, deliberation.
foresight &c. 510; vigilance &c. 459; warning &c. 668.
coolness &c. adj.; self-possession, self-command; presence of mind, sang froid[Fr]; well-regulated mind; worldly wisdom, Fabian policy.
V. be cautious &c. adj.; take care, take heed, take good care; have a care mind, what one is about; be on one's guard &c. (keep watch) 459; "make assurance doubly sure" [Macbeth].
bespeak &c. (be early) 132.
think twice, look before one leaps, count the cost, look to the main chance, cut one's coat according to one's cloth; feel one's ground, feel one's way; see how the land lies &c. (foresight) 510; wait to see how the cat jumps; bridle one's tongue; reculer pour mieux sauter &c. (prepare) 673[Fr]; let well alone, let well enough alone; let sleeping dogs lie, ne pas reveiller le chat qui dort [French: don't wake a sleeping cat].
keep out of harm's way, keep out of troubled waters; keep at a respectful distance, stand aloof; keep on the safe side, be on the safe side.
husband one's resources &c. 636.
caution &c. (warn) 668.
Adj. cautious, wary, guarded; on one's guard &c. (watchful) 459; cavendo tutus[Lat]; in medio tutissimus[Lat]; vigilant.
careful, heedful; cautelous|, stealthy, chary, shy of, circumspect, prudent, discreet, politic; sure-footed &c. (skillful) 698.
unenterprising, unadventurous, cool, steady, self-possessed; overcautious.
Adv. cautiously &c. adj.
Int. have a care!
Phr. timeo Danaos [Lat][Vergil]; festina lente[Lat].
ante victoriam ne canas triumphum [Lat: don't sing out victory before the triumph]; "give, every man thine ear but few thy voice" [Hamlet]; he who laughs last laughs best, il rit bien qui rit le dernier[Fr]; ni firmes carta que no leas ni bebas agua que no veas [Sp]; nescit vox missa reverti [Lat][Horace]; " love all, trust a few " [All's Well]; noli irritare leones [obs][Lat]; safe bind safe find; " if it ain't broke, don't fix it" [Bert Lance].