beware
verb/biˈwɛɚ/ · /bɪˈwɛɚ/
Etymology 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.
1
Ambitransitive, Defective 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 Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
- Synonyms
- mind