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on the alert

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The Warning
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a⋅lert

  [uh-lurt]
Use on the alert in a Sentence
–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.
–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.
—Idiom
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; < It all'erta, equiv. to all(a) to, on the + erta lookout, watchtower, orig. fem. of erto, ptp. of ergere < L ērigere to erect

Related forms:
a⋅lert⋅ly, adverb
a⋅lert⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
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.

Antonyms:
1. unaware.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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The Warning
by T. Davis Bunn Only $11.15. Save 30%. Buy in Bulk
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a·lert   (ə-lûrt')   
adj.  

  1. Vigilantly attentive; watchful: alert to danger; an alert bank guard. See Synonyms at aware.

  2. Mentally responsive and perceptive; quick.

  3. Brisk or lively in action: the bird's alert hopping from branch to branch.

n.  

  1. A signal that warns of attack or danger: Sirens sounded the alert for an air raid.

  2. A condition or period of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action: Nuclear-armed bombers were put on alert during the crisis.

tr.v.   a·lert·ed, a·lert·ing, a·lerts
To notify of approaching danger or action; warn: a flashing red light that alerted motorists to trouble ahead.

[French alerte, from Italian all' erta, on the lookout : alla, to the, on the (from Latin ad illam, to that : ad, to; see ad- + illam, feminine accusative sing. of ille, that, the; see al-1 in Indo-European roots) + erta, lookout (from past participle of ergere, to raise, from Latin ērigere; see erect).]
a·lert'ly adv., a·lert'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

alert 
1598, 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 the verb from 1868.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

on the alert

Watchful, fully prepared, as in The inspectors are always on the alert for a manufacturing error. [Late 1700s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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