*caveat*

‖n. [ L. caved let him beware, pres. subj. of cavere to be on one's guard to, beware. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Law) A notice given by an interested party to some officer not to do a certain act until the party is heard in opposition; as, a caveat entered in a probate court to stop the proving of a will or the taking out of letters of administration, etc. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (U. S. Patent Laws) A description of some invention, designed to be patented, lodged in the patent office before the patent right is applied for, and operating as a bar to the issue of letters patent to any other person, respecting the same invention. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A caveat is operative for one year only, but may be renewed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Intimation of caution; warning; protest. [ 1913 Webster ]

We think it right to enter our caveat against a conclusion. Jeffrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

Caveat emptor [ L. ] (Law), let the purchaser beware, i. e., let him examine the article he is buying, and act on his own judgment. [ 1913 Webster ]