Do you know the meaning of caveat? This article will provide you with all the information on caveat from its definition to its usage and more!
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Kevin
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January 23, 2022
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What Does Caveat Mean?
kav-ee-aht, -at, kah-vee-, key- \ˈka-vē-ˌät, -ˌat; ˈkä-vē-ˌät; ˈkā-vē-ˌat\
Surely by now, you’ve come across the word caveat, but what exactly does it mean?
According to Cambridge, the definition of a caveat is a statement that limits a more general statement. It is also a warning that one should consider before taking any further action. Simply put, a caveat is a warning.
While simply stated caveat can be looked at as a warning, it can also be defined as an explanation that should be used to prevent misinterpretation. In addition, a caveat is defined as a cautionary detail that should be considered when interpreting, doing, or simply just evaluating an action.
That being said, the term caveat can have an entirely different definition when using it in reference to the law and law proceedings. A caveat is when a judicial officer is given a legal warning to suspend a proceeding until the opposition has a hearing.
Using Caveat Correctly
If your friend is giving you directions to their house but at the end follows that up by saying something along the lines of “The caveat is that you need to leave prior to noon or else you will be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic.” They are, in turn, warning you that your travels could take longer than planned.
As we also talked about, when a lawyer asks for a break in proceedings, the legal term is a caveat. If a lawyer is trying to issue a caveat, this, in turn, means they are filing a formal notice to postpone the trial until their client receives a hearing.
What Are Synonyms for Caveat?
As you may have guessed, there are numerous synonyms for caveat because there are a few ways to define the word. In this context, a synonym is a similar word with the same meaning as a caveat. By learning these synonyms, you are helping yourself to broaden your vocabulary.
Synonyms of caveat will not only help to keep you from repeating yourself in everyday conversations but help broaden your knowledge of the English language as a whole. Included below is a list of synonyms from Word Hippo:
- Admonition
- Reservation
- Alarm Bells
- Caution
- Specification
- Exhortation
- Direction
- Percept
- Apprisal
- Proviso
- Scolding
- Roasting
- Berating
- Warning
- Castigation
- Ticking-Off
- Dressing Down
- Enactment
- Injunction
- Mandate
- Ratification
- Decalogue
- Doctrine
- Divestiture
- Exigency
- Tenet
- Counsel
- Pressure
- Notification
- Stipulation
- Condition
- Monition
- Forewarning
- Guidance
- Enjoinment
- Adjuration
- Buyer beware (aka caveat emptor)
What Are the Antonyms for Caveat?
When a word is opposite in meaning to another (e.g., up and down), that is called an antonym. Below is a list of various antonyms for caveat:
- Disqualification
- Disagreement
- Heedlessness
- Commendation
- Mention
- Acknowledgment
- Esteem
- Admiration
- Inability
- Implication
- Neglect
- Praise
- Accolade
- Congratulation
- Prize
- Request
- Wish
- Inaptitude
- Nonessential
- Lack
- Extolment
- Approbation
- Acclaim
The Origins of Caveat
According to Etymonline, the word caveat has been around since the 1550s. The word comes directly from Latin, literally meaning “let him beware.” It is also a third-person singular present subjunctive of cavēre or cavere (which means to take heed, beware, guard, and watch against).
The word’s root is the prefix keu – “to perceive, see and observe.” In the legal context, “caveat” would begin its life in the 1650s when lawyers used it in reference to a public warning which would prevent specific actions.
Usage Examples of Caveat
Caveat, with its various definitions and uses, can be used in a sentence in multiple ways.
Remember, since caveat can be used in a legal context as well as just a simple warning, you will discover it in all sorts of written documents.
Below you will find diverse examples of the proper usage of caveat:
- Sounds great; there is just one caveat: Knowledge of the topic is still in the scientific stone age.
- They clearly added a caveat of their own, just for parents.
- You do realize that it is impossible to predict the stock market with the utmost certainty, so there will always be a caveat to these types of investments.
- He gave his sister some hyacinth bulbs with the caveat that she plant them in the shade.
- The latest warning comes to us from a local branch, with some very specific caveats.
- Despite all of these apparent caveats, if you still believe the examples below will help you excel in your position, please continue to read below.
- The spokesperson caveated the statement with a quick reminder that certain facts were still unknown.
- You know that was clearly an important caveat.
- Unsurprisingly, the nurse was correct in the rather significant claim to that caveat.
- The court introduced a rather crucial caveat that somehow the prosecutors did not notice.
- The good news is that our realtor was able to prevent our property from going into probate by placing a caveat on our estate.
- Did you know that a legal notice filed with a court requesting postponement of a court proceeding until the filer or notifier is given a hearing is ultimately a caveat filed against the probate of a will?
- It is important that both the buyer and seller review the contract, as real estate deals almost always include caveats of some sort.
- Her investment advice often comes with a caveat, so be sure to do your due diligence and read the fine print.
- The only caveat to working the machinery is that you’ll need to undergo four months of training.
Conclusion
So, what does caveat mean?
Simply put, the term caveat is a noun that can be defined as a clarification or warning of various acts.
It can also be used in reference to the law, defined as a formal notice filed with a court or public officer to refrain from taking some specified action without giving prior notice. It can also mean suspending a proceeding until the filer of the notice is given a hearing.
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