warn English · revision 10505

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=gem-pro *warnōną|origins=ine-pro *wer-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /wɔːn/ ''(UK)''; /woɹn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English warnen, [[inh|ang|warnian|t=to give notice of danger; take heed]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) related to wær, aware, cautious (see [[wary]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) from Proto-Germanic *warōnan,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) source also of Old Norse varna and German [[m|de|warnen]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from PIE *wer-, to cover.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To take heed, be on one's guard, only in Old English; to give timely notice of danger, about 1000.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To caution someone against a person or thing is from before 1225.^(OED 1989) Hoad dates the sense to inform, notify to the 13th century.^(Hoad 1986) To order someone to go away, ''warn off'', is a later use.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''Warning'' is from Old English, probably before 1200 in the ''Ancrene Riwle''.^(Barnhart 1988) A noun warn, notice of something about to happen, was used before 1300.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – to give notice of danger.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1225 – to caution.^(OED 1989)

+ * 13th century – to inform.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make someone aware of possible danger or harm.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To advise against doing something; to admonish.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To inform in advance.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To order to go or keep away: ''warned off the land''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[warner]]

+ * [[forewarn]]

+ * [[prewarn]]

+ * [[rewarn]]

+ * [[warning]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wary]]

+ * [[aware]]

+ * [[beware]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}