verb (used with object)
- to be wary, cautious, or careful of (usually used imperatively): Beware such inconsistency. Beware his waspish wit.
verb (used without object)
- to be cautious or careful: Beware of the dog.
verb
- (usually used in the imperative or infinitive, often foll by of) to be cautious or wary (of); be on one’s guard (against)
c.1200, probably from a conflation of be ware (though the compound bewarian “defend” existed in Old English). See wary.