beware
/biˈwɛɚ/ verb
Forms bewares bewaring bewared bewore
Synonyms
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.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To be on one's guard; to be cautious; to take care; --commonly followed by of or lest before the thing that is to be avoided.
- verb To have a special regard; to heed. [Obs.]
- verb To avoid; to take care of; to have a care for. [Obs.] "Priest, beware your beard." Shak.
Etymology [Be, imperative of verb to be + ware. See Ware, Wary.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “beware”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details