Cautionary

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cautionary \Cau"tion*a*ry\, a.
     1. Conveying a caution, or warning to avoid danger; as,
        cautionary signals.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Given as a pledge or as security.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              He hated Barnevelt, for his getting the cautionary
              towns out of his hands.               --Bp. Burnet.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Wary; cautious. [Obs.] --Bacon.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cautionary
       adj 1: tending to ward off; "the swastika...a very ancient
              prophylactic symbol occurring among all peoples"-
              Victor Schultze [syn: {preventive}, {prophylactic}]
       2: serving to warn; "shook a monitory finger at him"; "an
          exemplary jail sentence" [syn: {admonitory}, {exemplary},
          {monitory}, {warning(a)}]