Caveat, I'm Warning You

In the language of trust, we speakers and writers of English have developed, over a span of centuries, the need to express warnings, precautions, consequences.  In fact, we've borrowed an exceptional word from Latin:  caveat.


Definition
caveat:  a precaution or warning


Origin
From Latin, caveat is the third person singular present subjunctive tense of cavere, to take care, to be cautious


Examples
1.  Wary of his numerous failed attempts at exhilarating and risky behavior, Margaret offered her brother a stern caveat as he described his latest adventure, skydiving.


2.  The obvious caveats appear by law on over-the-counter drugs as well as prescriptions in order to protect and inform the user of possible side effects.


3.  Professor Barnes' assignment came with a caveat:  Don't wait until the night before to write your ten-page research paper.


Two Latin expressions incorporating the word caveat can also contribute to your repository of power words:


Caveat lector:  let the reader beware
Example:  Polarizing sides of a political campaign often create a situation in which caveat lector might be essential:  Take what you read about each candidate with a grain of salt until you have researched the issues yourself.


Caveat emptor:  let the buyer beware
Example:  Caveat emptor also serves as a precaution for the seller who doesn't want negative repercussions after the sale but happy, satisfied customers who know exactly what they bought.


How many times have you listened with dread to those odious words, "I'm warning you!"  As much as we try to avoid circumstances of risk, the truth is, we are usually more amenable to accepting the precaution than jumping into a situation blindly with unpleasant consequences.  Hearing a caveat even if you don't care to, my dear reader, may save your life.  Good word, caveat.