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It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. |
BEWA'RE, v.i.
Beware of false prophets; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees; beware of the concision.
This word though here admitted as a verb, from the Saxon,is rarely used as a verb in fact; or if a verb, is now never used except in the imperative mode It is a compound of be and the Old Eng. ware, now wary. Be wary of danger. Hence it cannot be used with did, like a regular verb, nor with be, in any of its inflections, he is beware; for this would be to use the substantive verb twice before ware and wary, is and be. Ben Jonson however has used the word in the third person. He bewares to act. But it has no past tense or participle, and therefore, if admitted as a verb, it is defective,and used only in the imperative mode, or after an auxiliary.
To be on one's guard; to be cautious; to take care;
-- commonly followed by of or lest before the thing that is
to be avoided.
Beware of all, but most beware of man ! Beware the awful avalanche. To have a special regard; to heed.
[Obs.]
Behold, I send an Angel before thee. . . . Beware of
him, and obey his voice. * This word is a compound from be and the Old English ware, now wary, which is an adjective. "Be ye war of false prophetis." Wyclif, Matt. vii. 15. It is used commonly in the imperative and infinitive modes, and with such auxiliaries (shall, should, must, etc.) as go with the infinitive. To
avoid; to take care of; to have a care for.
[Obs.] "Priest,
beware your beard." Shak.
To wish them beware the son. | ||||||||