a. (sb.) [f. L. type *cautiōnāri-us: see CAUTION sb. and -ARY1; cf. F. cautionnaire.]
1. Of, pertaining to, of the nature of a pledge or security; held in pledge, or as a security or hostage. Now chiefly Hist. or Sc.
1597. Sir F. Vere, Comm. (1657), 70. The ordinary Garrison of the cautionary towns.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. viii. (1632), 556. That … all his cautionary Lords should be released.
1659. Rushw., Hist. Coll., I. 3. The Town of Flushing, the Castle of Ramakins in Zealand, and Brill in Holland, which were held by way of caution from the United Provinces, to insure their dependency upon England, the King resolved to render up, as being meerly cautionary.
1696. Southerne, Oroonoko, IV. ii. And I am made the cautionary pledge, The gage and hostage of your keeping it.
1824. Southey, Sir T. More (1831), II. 95. As a nation recalls its cautionary troops from fortresses which they have occupied in a friendly territory.
1844. De Quincey, in Blackw. Mag., LVI. 140/1. To bring Affghanistan within the general system of cautionary ties.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. iv. 131. The cautionary towns were to be restored.
1883. Scotsman, 9 May, 6/7. Cautionary obligations undertaken.
† 2. Marked by caution, cautious. Obs.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn. (1873), II. xxi. § 5. Doctrines … more fearful and cautionary than the nature of things requireth.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., II. vi. (1739), 34. The Prelates cautionary way of proceeding.
1806–31. A. Knox, Rem. (1844), I. 79. This cautionary conduct.
3. Of the nature of, or conveying, a caution or admonition; warning, admonitory.
1638. Rouse, Heav. Univ., x. (1702), 137. An Applicatory and Cautionary Chapter.
1711. Steele, Tatler, No. 273. Many cautionary precepts for my future conduct.
1806. Knox & Jebb, Corr., I. 255. A long cautionary letter, against the pernicious influence of philosophy and poetry.
1850. L. Hunt, Autobiog., v. (1860), 107. It had a cautionary effect.
1884. Cyclists’ Tour. Club Gaz., Dec., 362/1. Cautionary as well as danger-boards should be prepared.
† 4. Of the nature of a provision against evil or danger; precautionary. Obs.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iv. § 33. 520. Cicero … makes a Law for them … but with a cautionary provision, that [etc.].
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), VI. 1980. Cautionary severity is ever invidious.
1826. R. Peters, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., I. 88. He pursued such cautionary measures.
† b. Furnished with precautions. Obs.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 65. These ways are made cautionary enough … by these Posts and Ditch and Chain.
† B. sb. a. A security. b. A personal security, a surety. Obs.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 121. Two of his Head Towns should be left to the King as Cautionaries for performing the Covenants.
1655. Digges, Compl. Ambass., 370. The Duke her son would become cautionary for the due observation of the same.
