caution

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”).

• (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)

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caution (countable and uncountable, plural cautions)

1. Precept or warning against evil or danger of any kind; exhortation to wariness; advice; injunction; prudence in regard to danger; provident care
   • #*
     c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene iii]:

     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
   • The guideline expressed caution against excessive radiographic imaging.
3. Security; guaranty; bail.
   • (Can we date this quote by Clarendon?)

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

4. One who draws attention or causes astonishment by their behaviour.

   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.

• See also Thesaurus:caution

• precaution

• cautionary
• cautious

• caveat
• err on the side of caution
• throw caution to the wind

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

• auction, tauonic

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

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caution f (plural cautions)

1. caution, guaranty, bail
2. deposit

• cautionnement m
• cautionner

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

• couinât

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

caution f (plural cautions)

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