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warns

 - 3 dictionary results

warn

  [wawrn]
Use warns in a Sentence
–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

Related forms:
warner, noun

Synonyms:
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 warns
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.
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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