caution

Where does the word "caution" come from? It comes from Latin cautio, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Caution’s story begins in Latin: cautio meant “wariness.” From 'cavere', to beware; 'caveat' is from the same verb. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as caution. A legal guarantee. It reached English by 1300s as caution. The sense 'carefulness' dates from the 1600s. Today, caution means care taken to avoid danger.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient cautio "wariness", from 'cavere', to beware; 'caveat' is from the same verb.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval caution "security, bail", a legal guarantee.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s caution "bail", the sense 'carefulness' dates from the 1600s.