Pronunciation: /kɔːtəl/

Definitions of cautel

noun a trick or deception

Example Sentences

A1 She approached the situation with caution.

A2 The detective used cunning and cautel to solve the case.

B1 The politician employed cautel in his negotiations to achieve his goals.

B2 The spy's success was attributed to his skillful use of cautel.

C1 The lawyer's legal strategy was based on a combination of cautel and expertise.

C2 The master manipulator's cautel was unmatched in the world of espionage.

verb to deceive or trick

Example Sentences

A1 He cautels his steps when walking on the icy sidewalk.

A2 She cautels her words before speaking in front of a large audience.

B1 The detective cautels the suspect during questioning.

B2 It is important to cautel your actions when handling sensitive information.

C1 The politician was known for his ability to cautel his opponents during debates.

C2 The spy was trained to cautel every move in order to avoid detection.

Examples of cautel in a Sentence

formal The diplomat approached the negotiation with great cautel, ensuring every detail was carefully considered.

informal She always handles tricky situations with cautel, never rushing into decisions.

slang I told him to use some cautel when dealing with that shady character.

figurative In the game of chess, every move must be made with cautel to outsmart your opponent.

Grammatical Forms of cautel

past tense

cautelled

plural

cautels

comparative

more cautel

superlative

most cautel

present tense

cautels

future tense

will cautel

perfect tense

have cauteled

continuous tense

is cautelling

singular

cautel

positive degree

cautel

infinitive

to cautel

gerund

cautelling

participle

cautelled

Origin and Evolution of cautel

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'cautel' originated from Middle English, derived from the Old French word 'cautele' which in turn came from the Latin word 'cautela' meaning precaution or deceit.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'cautel' has evolved to primarily mean a deceptive or cunning trick, rather than just precaution or foresight.