Etymology Map
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Caution

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means care taken to avoid danger

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

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

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.