▪ I. caution, n.
(ˈkɔːʃən)
Forms: 3 kaucyon, 3–6 caucion, 4 caucioun, 5 cawcion, 5–6 caucyon, 6 cawcyon, causion, Sc. cautioun, 7 cawtion, 6– caution.
[a. F. caution security, surety:—L. cautiōn-em taking heed, heedfulness, caution; bond, security, f. caut- ppl. stem of cavēre to beware, take heed. The earlier uses were as in French; it was only in 16–17th c. that the original L. sense, as a quality, was introduced.]
1. Security given for the performance of some engagement; bail; a guarantee, a pledge. Still in Sc. Law, in U.S., and in caution-money; see 6.
bond of caution (Sc. Law): a security given by one person for another that he shall pay a certain sum or perform a certain act.
| 1297 R. Glouc. Chron. (1810) 506 The kyng suor vpe the boc, and caucion vond god, That he al clanliche to the popes loking stod. c 1300 K. Alis. 2811 Kaucyon they nolde geve, no bidde. 1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle i. xvii. (1859) 18 He ne may..oblyge hym self, ne ley caucyon to pursue forth his accyon. 1531 in Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 99 To put yn cawcyon or gage that he schall not sewe the scoller. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turkes (1621) 1284 Sufficient recognizance or caution sealed with his owne hand. 1651 Hobbes Liberty i. Wks. (1841) II. 13 The conqueror may..compel the conquered..to give caution of his future obedience. a 1718 Penn Wks. (1726) I. 668 Our Caution is as large as the Man that Swears. 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 25 He..ought to give Caution by the Means of Sureties, that he will persevere in the Prosecution. 1798 in Dallas Amer. Law Rep. I. 107 These views are answered here..with as good caution as in England. 1876 Grant Burgh Sch. Scotl. ii. iii. 132 To remain in ward until he find caution not to contravene the act of council. |
b. The person who becomes security, a surety. Obs. exc. Sc.
| 1586 Let. Earle Leycester 23 By Othe, Bonds, or Hostages, as cautions for her good and loyal demeanour. 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1584/2 Release of the bonds & hostages that should be giuen for cautions in that behalfe. 1627 Rutherford Lett. i. (1862) I. 35 [Christ] becomes caution to His Father for all such as resolve and promise to serve Him. 1656 Cowley Pind. Odes (1687) 3 What God (alas) will Caution be, For living Man's Securitie. 1685 Cotton Montaigne vi. 154 Any for whose intentions they would become absolute caution. 1826 J. Wilson Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 I. 214 For whom you had been caution. |
† c. An obligation, a bond. Obs.
| 138. Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 22 Take þi caucioun and sette soone and wryte fifty barellis. [So 1388 Wyclif Luke xvi. 6; 1382 has obligacioun.] |
d. = Caution-money: see 6.
| 1830 Bp. Monk Life Bentley (1833) II. 107 For some time after his degradation the disputations in theology were entirely dispensed with, on the payment of caution. |
† 2. A saving clause; a proviso. Obs.
| a 1593 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 5 We pray for health, and wealth, and honour..and life, with a caution, If it be Gods will. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxvi. §6 It standeth therefore with these cautions firm and true. 1616 Sir H. Dockwra in Fortesc. Papers (1871) 18 The office shold be divided in twoe, but with this speciall cawtion, that our charges shold be kepte aparte. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 513. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth i. (1723) 8, I advance nothing from any Observation that was not made with this Caution. |
3. A word of warning; a caveat, monition; a hint or advice to anyone to take heed.
| 1605 Shakes. Macb. iv. i. 73 What ere thou art, for thy good caution thanks. 1623 Cockeram, Caution = Caueat, a warning. 1661 Bramhall Just Vind. ii. 13 Not by way of censure, but of caution. 1791 (title) A Caution to Gentlemen who use Sheridan's Dictionary. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 659 Measures for conveying to his rival a caution which perhaps might still arrive in time. |
b. Mil. An explanation previous to the word of command; a preliminary word of command.
| 1796 Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813) 103 The squadron leader will give a loud caution that the doubling is to be made either successively, or by the whole squadron at once. 1859 F. Griffiths Artil. Man. (1862) 30 The commanding officer will give the caution, form company squares. |
c. An occurrence, act, or fact, which conveys a warning. (Somewhat colloq.: cf. ‘warning’.)
| 1878 Fr. Kemble Rec. Girlhood I. i. 14 The totally different character imparted by a helmet, or a garland of roses, to the same set of features, is a ‘caution’ to irregular beauties. |
d. slang. (Of U.S. origin.) Anything that staggers, or excites alarm or astonishment; an extraordinary thing or person.
| 1835 C. F. Hoffman Winter West 234 (Bartlett) The way the icy blast would come down the bleak shore was a caution. 1859 All Y. Round No. 22. 520 One man..whose performance was what the Americans call ‘a caution’. 1868 H. C. Johnson Argent. Alps 93 The first fifteen leagues we got over cheerily enough, but the last five were a caution. 1870 M. Collins Vivian III. ii. 26 His wife was what the Yankees call a ‘caution’. |
4. The taking of heed; ‘provident care, wariness against evil’ (J.), as a kind or quality of conduct; cautiousness, heedfulness, circumspectness, prudence in regard to danger.
| 1651 Reliq. Wotton. 11 Solicitudes..which kept the Earle in extream and continuall caution. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 197 Uncover..your choicest Plants, but with Caution. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 703 By little Caution, and much Love betray'd. 1719 Young Revenge v. ii, A rage In which the wise with caution will engage. 1729 Butler Serm. Wks. 1874 II. Pref. 7 Caution to avoid being mistaken. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. III. vi. iii. 453 Godfrey..had learned caution by his eventful life; it had degenerated into craft. 1863 W. Phillips Speeches vi. 139 Caution is not always good policy. 1876 Green Short Hist. vii. §6 (1882) 405 The caution and hesitation of Philip. |
† 5. (with pl.). A taking of heed, a cautious action or mode of proceeding; a precaution. Obs.
| 1605 Shakes. Macb. iii. vi. 44 That..might Aduise him to a Caution t' hold what distance His wisedome can prouide. 1669 Boyle Contn. New Exp. i. xlvii. (1682) 161. 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 26 The neglect of ordinary Cautions. 1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 21 [Something] which, whether a prudent caution or not, was the first overt act of the new reign. 1801 Med. Jrnl. V. 157 By due attention to those cautions in the practice, which have been so fully pointed out. |
6. attrib., as caution money, money deposited as a security for good conduct, esp. by a student on entering a college, or an Inn of Court; † caution town = cautionary town.
| 1665 Surv. Aff. Netherl. 140 They delivered us the Caution-Towns we had taken. 1842 Arnold in Life & Corr. (1844) II. x. 305 The Colleges take care to secure themselves by requiring caution money. 1848 tr. L. Blanc's Hist. Ten Y. II. 631 No freedom of the press, except in favour of those who can deposit an exorbitant sum of caution money. |
▪ II. caution, v.
(ˈkɔːʃən)
[f. prec. n.; cf. F. cautionner, med.L. cautiōnāre.]
† 1. intr. To give a caution or warning. Obs.
| 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. iii. 166 It was cautioned in the Law not to yoake an Oxe, and an Asse together. 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. Pref., We have Caution'd concerning it, in the Book it self. |
† 2. To provide with a ‘caution’ or saving clause; to guard. Obs.
| 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. iv. §4 Such Prophesyings..might be..discreetly cautioned and moderated. 1681 Burnet Hist. Ref. II. 7 It was added, to caution this, that the person..should do nothing..without the advice and consent of the greater part of the rest. |
3. To advise or charge (a person) to take heed; to warn. to caution oneself: to take heed, take precautions. Usual const. against, or to with inf.
| 1683 P. Lorrain Muret's Rites Fun. To Rdr. 4 In..cautioning us against a too late expectation of finding it. a 1694 Tillotson Wks. I. v. (R.) Cautioning us to take heed least we be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness. 1702 Eng. Theophrast. 113 If a Man..do not caution himself against the Snares, etc. 1845 Ford Handbk. Spain i. 28 Don Quixote cautions Sancho to be moderate in his food. 1857 Buckle Civiliz. I. xiv. 535 He cautions his readers against the common error of looking to antiquity for knowledge. |
Hence ˈcautioned, ˈcautioning, ppl. adjs.
| c 1720 Prior (J.) To our caution'd soul. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. xxxviii. 284 More of the cautioning friend, than of the satirizing observer. 1863 Geo. Eliot Romola iii. xxi, Romola's belief in him had submerged all cautioning doubts. |