caveat
UK[ˈkæv.i.æt]US[ˈkæv.i.æt]
n
a warning or caution about a specific point, especially one that qualifies an agreement or statement.
n
a legal notice that certain actions may not be taken without informing the person who gave the notice.
Etymology
the word 'caveat' entered english in the mid-16th century directly from latin, where it is the third-person singular present subjunctive form of the verb 'cavēre', meaning 'to beware'. its literal meaning is 'let him/her beware'. it was initially used in legal contexts, most famously in the phrase 'caveat emptor' (let the buyer beware), which placed the responsibility for checking quality on the purchaser. over time, its usage broadened from this specific legal warning to denote any cautionary remark or qualifying condition attached to an agreement or statement, retaining its core sense of a protective warning.
Analysis
this word is a direct loanword from latin and is not productively segmented using modern english spelling elements.
Examples
the contract seemed perfect, but there was a crucial caveat about delivery timelines hidden in the fine print.
i agree with your proposal with the caveat that we review the budget quarterly.
the scientist presented the new theory but added the caveat that it had not yet been peer-reviewed.