Nearby Words

alerted

[uh-lurt] Origin

a·lert

[uh-lurt]
adjective
1.
fully aware and attentive; wide-awake; keen: an alert mind.
2.
swift; agile; nimble.
noun
3.
an attitude of vigilance, readiness, or caution, as before an expected attack.
4.
a warning or alarm of an impending military attack, a storm, etc.: We'd just boarded the bus when the alert sounded.
5.
the period during which such a warning or alarm is in effect.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Alerted is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
verb (used with object)
6.
to warn (troops, ships, etc.) to prepare for action.
7.
to warn of an impending raid, attack, storm, etc.: The radio alerted coastal residents to prepare for the hurricane.
8.
to advise or warn; cause to be on guard: to alert gardeners to the dangers of some pesticides.
9.
on the alert, on guard against danger; in readiness; vigilant: The state police are on the alert for an escaped convict believed to be in the area.

Origin:
1590–1600; 1940–45 for def. 4; < Italian all'erta, equivalent to all(a) to, on the + erta lookout, watchtower, orig. feminine of erto, past participle of ergere < Latin ērigere to erect

a·lert·ly, adverb
a·lert·ness, noun
hy·per·a·lert, adjective
un·a·lert·ed, adjective


1. awake, wary, observant. Alert, vigilant, watchful imply a wide-awake attitude, as of someone keenly aware of his or her surroundings. Alert describes a ready and prompt attentiveness together with a quick intelligence: The tourist was alert and eager to see the sights. Vigilant suggests some immediate necessity for keen, active observation, and for continuing alertness: Knowing the danger, the scout was unceasingly vigilant. Watchful suggests carefulness and preparedness: watchful waiting. 2. brisk, lively, quick, active, sprightly, spirited.


1. unaware.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To alerted
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

alert
c.1600, from Fr. alerte "vigilant," from phrase à l'erte "on the watch," from It. all'erta "to the height," from erta "lookout, high tower," orig. fem. of erto, pp. of ergere "raise up," from L. erigere "raise." The adv. is the oldest form in Eng.; the adj. is from 1712, the noun from 1803, and
EXPAND
the verb from 1868.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature