Etymograph

English

caution

Caution comes from Old French caution ‘security, surety’, from Latin cautiō ‘precaution, caution’, and ultimately from cavēre ‘be on one's guard’.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcavēre‘be on one's guard’next step skipped: Latin caveō
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcautus‘cautious, careful’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcautiō‘precaution, caution’
  4. Old Frenchc. 842–1400caution‘security, surety’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500caucioun‘bail, guarantee, pledge’
  6. Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602caution

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history not traced here.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcavēre‘be on one's guard’next step skipped: Latin caveō
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcautus‘cautious, careful’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcautiō‘precaution, caution’
  4. Old Frenchc. 842–1400caution‘security, surety’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500caucioun‘bail, guarantee, pledge’
  6. Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602caution

Earliest quotation: c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: “In way of caution I must tell you.”

The story

Recorded since 1297 as Middle English caucioun (‘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’).

Every English word from Latin cavēre

Today it means

noun Prudence when faced with, or when expecting to face, danger; care taken in order to avoid risk or harm.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin cavēre / caution

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