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warning

 - 5 dictionary results

warn⋅ing

[wawr-ning]
–noun
1. the act or utterance of one who warns or the existence, appearance, sound, etc., of a thing that warns.
2. something that serves to warn, give notice, or caution: We fired a warning at the intruders.
3. Meteorology. an announcement from the U.S. National Weather Service alerting the public that a storm or other weather-related hazard is imminent and that immediate steps should be taken to protect lives and property. Compare advisory (def. 5), storm warning (def. 2), watch (def. 20).
–adjective
4. serving to warn, advise, caution: a warning bell.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME (n.); OE war(e)nung precaution; see warn, -ing 1 , -ing 2


warn⋅ing⋅ly, adverb


2. caution, admonition, advice; omen, sign, portent, augury, presage.

warn

[wawrn]
–verb (used with object)
1. to give notice, advice, or intimation to (a person, group, etc.) of danger, impending evil, possible harm, or anything else unfavorable: They warned him of a plot against him. She was warned that her life was in danger.
2. to urge or advise to be careful; caution: to warn a careless driver.
3. to admonish or exhort, as to action or conduct: She warned her employees to be on time.
4. to notify, advise, or inform: to warn a person of an intended visit.
5. to give notice to (a person, group, etc.) to go, keep at a distance, etc. (often fol. by away, off, etc.): A sign warns trespassers off the grounds. A marker warned boats away from the dock.
6. to give authoritative or formal notice to (someone); order; summon: to warn a person to appear in court.
–verb (used without object)
7. to give a warning; caution: to warn of further disasters.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME warnen, OE warnian; c. G warnen. Cf. ware 2


warner, noun


1. forewarn. Warn, caution, admonish imply attempting to prevent another from running into danger or getting into unpleasant or undesirable circumstances. To warn is to speak plainly and usually in strong terms: to warn him about danger and possible penalties. To caution is to advise about necessary precautions, to put one on one's guard about possibly harmful circumstances or conditions, thus emphasizing avoidance of undesirable consequences: to caution him against driving in such weather. Admonish suggests giving earnest, authoritative advice with only tacit references to danger or penalty: to admonish a person for neglecting his duties.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To warning
warn   (wôrn)   
v.   warned, warn·ing, warns

v.   tr.
  1. To make aware in advance of actual or potential harm, danger, or evil.

  2. To admonish as to action or manners.

  3. To notify (a person) to go or stay away: warned them off the posted property.

  4. To notify or apprise in advance: They called and warned me that they might be delayed.

v.   intr.
To give a warning.

[Middle English warnen, from Old English warnian; see wer-4 in Indo-European roots.]
warn'er n.
warn·ing   (wôr'nĭng)   
n.  
  1. An intimation, threat, or sign of impending danger or evil.

    1. Advice to beware.

    2. Counsel to desist from a specified undesirable course of action.

  2. A cautionary or deterrent example.

  3. Something, such as a signal, that warns.

adj.  Acting or serving to warn: a warning light; warning words.
warn'ing·ly adv.
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

warn 
O.E. warnian "to give notice of impending danger," also intrans., "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).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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