An archaic term for caution, prudence, or a precaution taken to avoid danger or deception.
From Old French 'cautel,' derived from Latin 'cautela' (caution, wariness), which comes from 'cavere' (to beware). The word belonged to a broader family of caution-related terms that evolved through Romance languages.
Shakespeare's characters sometimes use 'cautel' when warning of treachery—it's a word that sounds like it means something devious precisely because it deals with avoiding deception, making it perfect for scenes of court intrigue.
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