caution

Etymology

Recorded since 1297, "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”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: kôshn, IPA^(key): /ˈkɔːʃn/
• (US) enPR: käshn, kôshn, IPA^(key): /ˈkɑːʃn/, /ˈkɔʃn/
• (cot–caught merger, northern cities vowel shift) enPR: käshn, IPA^(key): /ˈkɑʃn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

caution (countable and uncountable, plural cautions)

1. Precept or warning against evil or danger of any kind; exhortation to wariness; advice; injunction.
   • Shakespeare

     In way of caution I must tell you.

2. A careful attention to the probable effects of an act, in order that failure or harm may be avoided; prudence in regard to danger; provident care; wariness.
3. Security; guaranty; bail.
   • Clarendon

     The Parliament would yet give his majesty sufficient caution that the war should be prosecuted.

4. One who gives rise to attention or astonishment.

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

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

Verb

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.
2. (soccer) To give a yellow card

Anagrams

• auction, tauonic

Etymology

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

Noun

caution f (plural cautions)

1. caution, guaranty, bail
2. deposit

Further reading

• “caution” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• couinât

Etymology

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

Noun

caution f (plural cautions)

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