warn

warn
[[t]wɔrn[/t]]
v. t.
1) to give notice, advice, or intimation to (a person, group, etc.) of impending danger, possible harm, or the like
2) to urge or advise to be careful; caution:
to warn a careless driver[/ex]
3) to admonish or exhort, as to action or conduct
4) to notify; inform:
to warn a person of an intended visit[/ex]
5) to notify to go away, keep at a distance, etc. (often fol. by away, off, etc.):
A sign warned boats away from the island[/ex]
6) to order; summon:
to warn a person to appear in court[/ex]
7) to give a warning; caution
Etymology: bef. 1000; ME; OE warnian, c. MLG warnen, warn′er, n. syn: warn, caution, admonish imply attempting to prevent someone from running into danger or unpleasant circumstances. To warn is to inform plainly and strongly of possible or imminent trouble, or to advise that doing or not doing something will have dangerous consequences: The scout warned the fort of the attack. I warned them not to travel to that country. To caution is to advise to be careful and to take necessary precautions: Tourists were cautioned to watch their belongings. To admonish is to advise of negligence or a fault in an earnest, authoritative, but friendly way, so that corrective action can be taken: to admonish a student for constant lateness.

From formal English to slang. 2014.

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  • warn — W2S3 [wo:n US wo:rn] v [I and T] [: Old English; Origin: warnian] 1.) to tell someone that something bad or dangerous may happen, so that they can avoid it or prevent it ▪ Be careful, the rocks are slippery, Alex warned. warn sb about sth ▪… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • warn — [ wɔrn ] verb intransitive or transitive *** 1. ) to make someone conscious of a possible problem or danger so they will not be hurt: Police are warning all women in the area to be on their guard. warn against: Recent studies warn against… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • warn — warn, forewarn, caution can mean to let one know of ap proaching or possible danger or risk. Warn is the most comprehensive of these terms; in most of its senses it stresses a timely notification that makes possible the avoidance of a dangerous… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • warn´er — warn «wrn», transitive verb. 1. to give notice to in advance; put on guard (against danger, evil, or harm). 2. to give notice to; inform: »The whistle warned visitors that the ship was ready to sail. SYNONYM(S): appraise, notify. 3. to give… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Warn — Warn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Warned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Warning}.] [OE. warnen, warnien, AS. warnian, wearnian, to take heed, to warn; akin to AS. wearn denial, refusal, OS. warning, wernian, to refuse, OHG. warnen, G. warnen to warn, OFries. warna …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • WARN — I verb admonish, advise, alert, apprise, caution, caution against danger, communicate to, counsel, deter, discourage, dissuade, exhort, expostulate, forebode, forewarn, give warning, herald, inform, make aware, notice, notify, portend, predict,… …   Law dictionary

  • Warn — (w[add]rn), v. t. [OE. wernen, AS. weornan, wyrnan. Cf. {Warn} to admonish.] To refuse. [Written also {wern}, {worn}.] [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • warn — (v.) O.E. warnian to give notice of impending danger, also intransitive, to take heed, from W.Gmc. *warnojanan (Cf. O.N. varna to admonish, O.H.G. warnon to take heed, Ger. warnen to warn ); related to O.E. wær aware, cautious (see WARY (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • warn — ► VERB 1) inform of a possible danger, problem, etc. 2) give (someone) cautionary advice about actions or conduct. 3) (warn off) order (someone) to keep away or to refrain from doing something. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • warn — verb is traditionally a transitive verb with a grammatical object corresponding to the person or people receiving the warning: She warned them of the danger / She warned them that it was unsafe. In the 20c an intransitive use with a following… …   Modern English usage

  • warn — [v] give notice of possible occurrence acquaint, address, admonish, advise, advocate, alert, apprise, caution, clue, clue in*, counsel, cry wolf*, deprecate, direct, dissuade, enjoin, exhort, fill in, forbid, forearm, forewarn, give fair warning …   New thesaurus

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