Obs. Forms: 1 wærnes, -nys, 4–5 warnesse, 4–6 warenes, 5 waarnes(s, 6 wareness(e, 5–6 warnes. [OE. wærnes, f. wær WARE a.: see -NESS.] Cautiousness, vigilance.
971. Blickl. Hom., 213. Hæfde he miccle lufan & ealle wærnesse to ælcum men.
1357. Lay Folks Catech. (L.), 1273. The v. vertu ys warnesse and sleyȝte. in god to know þe goode fro þe yuyl.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xvi. 92. He schal … take greet waarnes that he be not … bigilid.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 44 b. Discrete cautele or warenes, and diligence, with suche other.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 78. I … dare not wthout grete warnes geue it in to ye body.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. xxi. 125. Let euerie of vs … rowse vp all our wittis, and gather them about vs applying them earnestly to this care and warenesse which Moses speaketh of here.
