beware en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /bəˈwɛɚ/
- /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.
Meanings
-
(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]:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| bewore | Tense=Past | nonstandard | lexicographic |
| bewore | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | nonstandard, rare | lexicographic |
| bewared | Tense=Past | rare | lexicographic |
| bewared | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | rare | lexicographic |
| bewares | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | rare | lexicographic |
| bewaring | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | rare | lexicographic |
Deriveds
buyer beware · let the buyer beware · beware of Greeks bearing gifts · beware of the dog · unbeware
Synonyms
Translations (44)
eo atenti (use caution, pay attention (to)) · it fare attenzione (use caution, pay attention (to)) · ru остерега́ться (use caution, pay attention (to)) · cmn 小心 (use caution, pay attention (to)) · hu óvakodik (use caution, pay attention (to)) · ar اِحْذَرْ (use caution, pay attention (to)) · th ระวัง (use caution, pay attention (to)) · da vogte sig (use caution, pay attention (to)) · it guardarsi (use caution, pay attention (to)) · gl mirar por (use caution, pay attention (to)) · pt prestar atenção (use caution, pay attention (to)) · es ser precavido (use caution, pay attention (to)) · la videsis (use caution, pay attention (to)) · la caveō (use caution, pay attention (to)) · fi varoa (use caution, pay attention (to)) · izh kavvoa (use caution, pay attention (to)) · la vide sis (use caution, pay attention (to)) · ar حَذَارِ (use caution, pay attention (to)) · ro păzi (use caution, pay attention (to)) · es tener cuidado (use caution, pay attention (to)) · la sis vide (use caution, pay attention (to)) · sv akta sig (för) (use caution, pay attention (to)) · ca anar amb compte (use caution, pay attention (to)) · no passe seg (use caution, pay attention (to)) · pt tomar cuidado (use caution, pay attention (to)) · gl ollo (use caution, pay attention (to)) · da passe på (use caution, pay attention (to)) · bg пази се от (use caution, pay attention (to)) · pl strzec się (use caution, pay attention (to)) · ka ფრთხილად ყოფნა (use caution, pay attention (to)) · is varast (use caution, pay attention (to)) · ka გაფრთხილება (use caution, pay attention (to)) · hy զգուշացի՛ր (use caution, pay attention (to)) · de sich hüten (vor) (use caution, pay attention (to)) · it temere (use caution, pay attention (to)) · az saqınmaq (use caution, pay attention (to)) · fr faire attention (use caution, pay attention (to)) · hy զգուշանալ (use caution, pay attention (to)) · da vare sig (use caution, pay attention (to)) · pt precaver-se (use caution, pay attention (to)) · bg внимавай (use caution, pay attention (to)) · ka მორიდება (use caution, pay attention (to)) · gl cavidar (use caution, pay attention (to)) · uk стерегти́ся (use caution, pay attention (to))