Cautions

alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness:
Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.
a warning against danger or evil; anything serving as a warning:
By way of caution, he told me the difficulties I would face.
Informal. a person or thing that astonishes or causes mild apprehension:
She’s a caution. The way he challenges your remarks is a caution.
to give warning to; advise or urge to take heed.
to warn or advise:
The newspapers caution against overoptimism.
Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

noun
care, forethought, or prudence, esp in the face of danger; wariness
something intended or serving as a warning; admonition
(law, mainly Brit) a formal warning given to a person suspected or accused of an offence that his words will be taken down and may be used in evidence
a notice entered on the register of title to land that prevents a proprietor from disposing of his or her land without a notice to the person who entered the caution
(informal) an amusing or surprising person or thing: she’s a real caution
verb
(transitive) to urge or warn (a person) to be careful
(transitive) (law, mainly Brit) to give a caution to (a person)
(intransitive) to warn, urge, or advise: he cautioned against optimism
n.

c.1300, “bail, guarantee, pledge,” from Old French caution “security, surety” (13c.), from Latin cautionem (nominative cautio) “caution, care, foresight, precaution,” noun of action from past participle stem of cavere “to be on one’s guard” (see caveat). The Latin sense re-emerged in English 16c.-17c. Meaning “word of warning” is from c.1600.
v.

“to warn,” 1640s, from caution (n.). Related: Cautioned; cautioning.
see: throw caution to the winds