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caution - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Recorded since 1297 as Middle English caucioun (“bail, guarantee, pledge”), from Old French caution (“security, surety”), itself from Latin cautiō, from cautus, past participle of caveō, cavēre (“be on one's guard”).

caution (countable and uncountable, plural cautions)

  1. Prudence when faced with, or when expecting to face, danger; care taken in order to avoid risk or harm.

    take caution

    have caution

    exercise great caution

    utmost caution is required when travelling in this dangerous neighbourhood

    act with caution

    proceed without due caution

    sound a note of caution

    • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:

      In way of caution I must tell you.

    • 1960 December, “Talking of Trains: The railways and the Devon floods”, in Trains Illustrated, page 709:

      [...] and on the Saturday heavy seas pounded the W.R. on its exposed coastal stretch between Dawlish and Teignmouth, loosening the ballast and forcing trains to proceed with extreme caution.

  2. A careful attention to the probable effects of an act, in order that failure or harm may be avoided.

    The guideline expressed caution against excessive radiographic imaging.

  3. Security; guaranty; bail.
  4. (dated) One who draws attention or causes astonishment by their behaviour.

    Oh, that boy, he's a caution! He does make me laugh.

    • 1915, W. Somerset Maugham, chapter 58, in Of Human Bondage:

      ‘You are a caution,’ she said, when she came out. ‘I don't understand you.’

  5. (law) A formal warning given as an alternative to prosecution in minor cases.
  6. (soccer) A yellow card.

precept or warning against evil or danger

careful attention, prudence

security; guaranty; bail

caution (third-person singular simple present cautions, present participle cautioning, simple past and past participle cautioned)

  1. (transitive) To warn; to alert, advise that caution is warranted.

    • 2018 July 13, Jaime Marie Davis, “How photographers have captured skateboarding through generations”, in CNN‎[1]:

      In its May 1965 issue, Life magazine condemned skateboards as a “menace to limb and even to life,” and cautioned readers about riders who “take over the paths made for peaceful strollers.”

  2. (soccer) To give a yellow card.

to warn

Inherited from Old French caution, borrowed from Latin cautiōnem, from cautus, past participle of caveō, cavēre (“be on one's guard”).

caution f (plural cautions)

  1. caution, guaranty, bail
  2. deposit
  3. security deposit

From Old French caution, borrowed from Latin cautiō, cautiōnem.

caution f (plural cautions)

  1. (Jersey) deposit
  2. (Jersey, law) bail