caveatting

Verb

caveat (third-person singular simple present caveats, present participle caveating, simple past and past participle caveated)

1. (transitive, regarded by some as nonstandard) To qualify a statement with a caveat or proviso.
   • The Emperor smiled more than a half smile. / "I am not sure," he said, "that any harm was done, anyhow." / "What!" cried Brinnaria. "You excuse me? You defend me?" / "Softly! Softly!" the Emperor caveatted, raising his hand. "I do not acquit you nor exonerate you. But I do make allowances.[…]"1918, Edward Lucas White, “Conference”, in The Unwilling Vestal: A Tale of Rome under the Cæsars, New York, N.Y.: E[dward] P[ayson] Dutton & Company, 681 Fifth Avenue, →OCLC, page 121
2. (transitive) To formally object to something.
   • But of all the Strategems to prevent the obtaining of Licences, commend me to that of entring Caveats againſt one another's Curates; a Project of vaſt Contrivance, and worthy the renowned Head that firſt invented it. By this means, 'tis eaſy to ſee, that if there be but Confederacy enough among the...1722, “a clergyman of the Church of England” [pseudonym; Thomas Stackhouse], The Miseries and Great Hardships of the Inferiour Clergy, in and about London. And a Modest Plea for Their Rights, and...
   1. (specifically, transitive) To lodge a formal notice of interest in land under a Torrens land-title system.
      • It is unclear whether or not a purchaser upon exchange of contracts will be regarded as guilty of postponing conduct if failing to caveat.2005, Geoffrey Moore, “Torrens Title: Priorities between Unregistered Interests”, in David Barker, editor, Essential Real Property (Cavendish Essential Series), Coogee, N.S.W.: Cavendish Publishing...
3. (dated, transitive) To issue a notice requesting that proceedings be suspended.
   • The answer further alleged that the intestate, in right of his wife, caveated the probate in Virginia of the will of one William Hill, her relation; […]1838 June, Judge William Gaston, “Hannah Gee v. Henry Gee and Peyton R. Tunstall”, in Thomas P. Devereux, William H[orn] Battle, editors, Reports of Cases in Equity, Argued and Determined in the...
4. (obsolete, transitive) To warn or caution against some event.
   • […] I beseach you to caveat any addresse being fully heard until some person commissioned from this Countrey be their to confront the sayd Dutch or their complices.1663 December 14, Jo[hn] Scott; John Romeyn Brodhead, comp., “Captain John Scott to Under Secrᵗʸ [Joseph] Williamson. [Plant. Genl. Miscell. Bundle. State Paper Office.]”, in Documents Relative to...

See all 11 meanings of caveat