beware

To use caution, pay attention to (used both with and without of).

Verb

  1. To use caution, pay attention to (used both with and without of).
    • Behold, I send an Angel before thee[…]. Beware of him, and obey his voice. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 23:20-21:
    • Beware the Ides of March. - 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...

Origin

From Middle English bewar, be war, be ware, forms of Middle English ben ware (“to be on one's guard, be vigilant”, literally “be ware”), equivalent to be + ware or be + aware. Compare Old English bewarian.

Forms

bewares bewaring bewared bewore

Derived

beware of Greeks bearing gifts beware of the dog buyer beware let the buyer beware unbeware