Posted by A guy in Oregon on February 23, 2001 at 00:36:31:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Speed Reading posted by Aubrey Foard on February 22, 2001 at 23:12:09:
Actually, it's the (jussive) subjunctive form of cavere "to beware, avoid". Thus caveat: "let him/her/it beware". "Caveat venditor": "Let the seller beware".
"Cave" is the imperative form, as in "Cave canem": "Beware of the dog".