Beware

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Beware \Be*ware"\, v. i. [Be, imperative of verb to be + ware.
     See {Ware}, {Wary}.]
     1. 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.
        [1913 Webster]


  
              Beware of all, but most beware of man ! --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Beware the awful avalanche.           --Longfellow.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To have a special regard; to heed. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Behold, I send an Angel before thee. . . . Beware of
              him, and obey his voice.              --Ex. xxiii.
                                                    20, 21.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: This word is a compound from be and the Old English
           ware, now wary, which is an adjective. "Be ye war of
           false prophetis." --Wyclif, Matt. vii. 15. It is used
           commonly in the imperative and infinitive modes, and
           with such auxiliaries (shall, should, must, etc.) as go
           with the infinitive.
           [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Beware \Be*ware"\ (b[-e]*w[^a]r"), v. t.
     To avoid; to take care of; to have a care for. [Obs.]
     "Priest, beware your beard." --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           To wish them beware the son.             --Milton.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  beware
       v : be on one's guard; be cautious or wary about; be alert to;
           "Beware of telephone salesmen" [syn: {mind}]