Word: caveat Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Learned borrowing from Latin caveat (“may he/she/it beware”), third-person singular present active subjunctive of caveō (“to beware of”). Doublet of show, both ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewh₁- (“to heed, look, feel, take note of”). Pronunciation: /ˈkævɪæt/, /ˈkeɪ-/, /ˈkæviɑt/, /-æt/, /ˈkɑviɑt/ 1. To qualify a statement with a caveat or proviso. Labels: transitive Example: The Emperor smiled more than a half smile. / "I am not sure," he said, "that any harm was done, anyhow." / "What!" cried Brinnaria. "You excuse me? You defend me?" / "Softly! Softly!" the Emperor caveatted, raising his hand. "I do not acquit you nor exonerate you. But I do make allowances.[…]" Example: Some years ago, General Alexander Haig […] was widely criticized (and parodied) for using nouns as verbs in a highly idiosyncratic way, known as Haigspeak: phrases like "I'll have to caveat my response, Senator, and I'll caveat that", […] From one point of view, however, Haig was merely displaying the virtuosity of English, if not its grace. 2. To formally object to something. Labels: transitive Example: But of all the Strategems to prevent the obtaining of Licences, commend me to that of entring Caveats againſt one another's Curates; a Project of vaſt Contrivance, and worthy the renowned Head that firſt invented it. By this means, 'tis eaſy to ſee, that if there be but Confederacy enough among the Incumbents, and Corruption enough in the Officer that receives them, the whole Body of Curates may be demoliſhed at once. "Tis but changing Hands, my caveating yours, and your caveating my Curate, and then a Fig for the Canons, that require them to be licenc'd Preachers." Example: With the facts that may thus be brought distinctly before the public, it may soon become generally understood whether Professor [Royal Earl] House's Letter Printing telegraph (the only American telegraph patented in Great Britain and other European kingdoms as well as in the United States) is any infringement of Prof. [Samuel] Morse's patent, or of anything which Prof. Morse has a right to claim; and it will also be seen whether the telegraph system caveatted in the United States Patent office by Col. Charles B. Moss, of Virginia, under claim for a patent, (in the same way that Prof. Morse caveatted his "vital" "principle" as late as 1845–6) is or is not at least as original and effective as any telegraph that makes arbitrary signs like the dots and lines first used by [Carl August von] Steinheil and by Davey^([sic – meaning Edward Davy]) in 1837 and 1838, and afterwards combined by Prof. Morse in his first patent of 1840. 3. To formally object to something. Labels: specifically, transitive Example: It is unclear whether or not a purchaser upon exchange of contracts will be regarded as guilty of postponing conduct if failing to caveat. 4. To issue a notice requesting that proceedings be suspended. Labels: dated, transitive Example: The answer further alleged that the intestate, in right of his wife, caveated the probate in Virginia of the will of one William Hill, her relation; […] Example: The defendant, father of the testator, had caveated against granting of probate on the ground that the will was not duly executed, and that deceased did not know or approve of its contents. 5. To warn or caution against some event. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: […] I beseach you to caveat any addresse being fully heard until some person commissioned from this Countrey be their to confront the sayd Dutch or their complices. Example: It is said that the herb Christswoort, or Christmas flower, in plain English Black Helebore, (so called from its springing about this time) helpeth madnesse, distraction, purgeth melancholy and dulnesse. This last expression minds me to caveat the Reader, not to be angry at Helebore because it's called Christmas flowre; for it, poore thing, hurts no body that lets it alone, […] [quoting V. Annand's Mysterium Pietatis, pages 24–25.]