Circumspection (10)
I believe the answer is:
precaution
'circumspection' is the definition.
(I know that precaution is a type of circumspection)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for precaution that I've seen before include "Safeguard" , "Measure taken in case it proves to be necessary" , "Safety measure" , "Advance measure taken against an undesirable development" , "foresight" .)