▪ I. warn, n.
(wɔːn)
[f. warn v.1 (The OE. wearn refusal, is a different word: see warn v.2).]
† 1. An intimation or notice of something as about to happen. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 11133 He fand wit-vten oþer warn Þat þis leuedi was wit barn. c 1400 Cato's Morals 264 in Cursor M. App. iv. 1672 Hope ay of gode hap to come wiþ a gode clap wiþ-out ani warne. |
2. poet. Warning.
| a 1851 Moir Poet. Wks. II. 283 The moat o'erpassed, at warn of bell, Down thundering the portcullis fell. |
† 3. Comb. (perh. f. the stem of warn v.1): warn-word, a word of warning.
| 1602 [Parsons] title, The Warn-word to Sir Francis Hastinges Wast-word. 1624 Bp. Sanderson Serm. ad Pop. v. (1681) I. 241 The whole Chapter is none other but a warn-word against unthankfulness. |
▪ II. warn, v.1
(wɔːn)
Pa. tense and pple. warned. Forms: 1 war(e)nian, wearnian, 2 warnian, -en, (wernin), 2–6 werne, 2–3 warnie, warni, 3 wearne, weorne, 3–4 warny(e, 4–5 waren, 4–7 Sc. varn, 5 wern, waarne, waran, 6 Sc. wairn, 3–7 warne, 6 dial. warren, 3– warn.
[OE. warenian, warnian, wearnian = MLG. warnen to warn, inform, Flem. (Kilian) † waernen to warn, put on one's guard, OHG. warnôn, warnên to warn, refl. to provide oneself, to take precautions (MHG., mod.G. warnen to warn; the Sw. varna, Da. varne are prob. from German):—OTeut. *waranōjan (-ǣjan), f. *war- to be cautious: see ware a.
In OE. and in Continental Teut. this verb seems to have been to some extent confused with OTeut. *warnōjan, cogn. and synonymous with *warnjan to refuse, forbid, etc. (see warn v.2).]
† I. 1. intr. and refl. To take heed, be on one's guard, beware. Only OE.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke xi. 35 Warna þæt þæt leoht þe ðe on is ne syn þystru. c 1000 ælfric in Lamb. Hom. 301 Heo [sc. þet sidefulle wif] hi warnað [c 1175 (ibid. 111) wernað] wið druncennysse. |
II. To make aware, to put on one's guard.
2. a. trans. To give timely notice to (a person) of impending danger or misfortune.
Const. of, against (OE. and early ME. wið) or subord. clause. to warn off: to keep away (from danger) by timely notice.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. II. 166 Ða sende Benedictus swiðe hrædlice and warnode ða ᵹebroðra wið þæs deofles to-cyme. a 1023 Wulfstan Hom. xii. (1883) 79 Þæt hy godes folc warnian ᵹelome wið þone eᵹesan, þe mannum is towerd. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud. MS.) an. 992 Ða sende se ealdorman ælfric & het warnian þone here. a 1200 Moral Ode 226 in O.E. Hom. I. 173 Ich hit wille seggen þan þe hit hom solf nusten Warni hom wið hore unfrome ȝif ho me wulleð lusten. Ibid. 228 Ich wulle tellen of helle pin and wernin ow wið herme. c 1205 Lay. 7984 For Julius Cesar of his hærme wæs wær a-buten mid-nihte he warnede alle his cnihtes & to scipen ferden & fusden an veste. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1091 Loth hem [his sons-in-law] warnede, wislike and wel, Oc he ne troweden him neuere a del. a 1300 Cursor M. 1731 Þe folk to preche for-gate he [Noe] noght, To warne þam of our lauerds wrake. c 1320 Cast. Love 390 Milce and merci he haþ for-loren, He was warned þer-of bi-foren. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 2658 For In myne dremys it is warnede me How that myn Neuew shal myn bane be. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VIII. 193 For he hadde i-warnede hym of meny myshappes þat schulde falle hem for his cruelnes... Also he hadde i-warnede hym þat he schulde regne but fourtene ȝere. 1445 in Anglia XXVIII. 273 Thaventurous knyȝte by thyn reporte is warnyd of his perellys. c 1450 Holland Houlate 975 All ȝour welth will away, Thus I warn ȝow. 1470–85 Malory Arthur i. x. 47, I warne yow al, your enemyes are passyng strong for yow. 1526 Tindale Matt. ii. 22 Notwithstondynge after he was warned in hys slepe, he tourned asyde into the parties off galile. 1599 A. Hume Hymns v. 96 Poems (S.T.S.) 44 The godly Hezekiah king, was sick in great distres, And be the Prophete wairnd, that he sould neuer conuales. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 6 O..that now, While time was, our first Parents had bin warnd The coming of thir secret foe, and scap'd..his mortal snare. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho vi, They say it often comes to warn people of their death. 1859 Tennyson Elaine 274 He learnt and warn'd me of their fierce design Against my house. 1860 ― Sea Dreams 128 And then I fear'd Lest the gay navy there should splinter on it, And fearing waved my arm to warn them off. |
| Proverbs. c 1530 R. Hilles Common-pl. Bk. (1858) 140 He that ys warnyd beffore ys not begylyd. 1546 J. Heywood Prov. (1867) 63 Halfe warnd halfe armde. 1591 Harington Orl. Fur. xiii. xlvii, The Proverb saith, one that is warn'd is arm'd. 1700 Dryden Fables, Cock & Fox 799 Once warn'd is well bewar'd. |
b. absol.
| a 1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 196 Swefnu binnon þrim daᵹum beoð onwriᵹene hwilan to warnienne. a 1225 Ancr. R. 182 Sicnesse..wardeð [MS. C. weorneð] to ȝein þeo [sins] þet weren touwardes. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xii. xxxiii. 124 b/2 (Bodl. MS.), [Þe] sparowe dredeþ þe wesell and cryeþ and warneþ ȝif awesel come [L. presentiam ejus prodit]. |
3. To put (a person) on his guard, to caution against some person or thing as dangerous.
† Formerly const. of, from.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 54 Al þus þe holi Gost lette writen one boc uor to warnie wummen of hore fol eien. 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles iv. 77 [They] blamed þe maister, Þat knewe not þe kynde cours þat to þe crafte longid, And warned him wisely of þe wedir-side. 1422 Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 195 She was all venym; And yef I had not varnyte the therof at the furste tuching she had shent the. 1577 Kendall Flowers Epigr. 62 Warnde of my foe, I shunne my foe. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, i. iii. 298 What dost thou scorne me For my gentle counsell? And sooth the diuell that I warne thee from. 1773 Cook's 1st Voy. i. iv. in Hawkesw. Voy. ii. 48 Dr. Solander himself was the first who found the inclination, against which he had warned others, irresistible. 1809 Med. Jrnl. XXI. 404 This..will for ever operate as a friendly beacon to warn..anatomists and surgeons, against a hasty or superficial dissection of a dead body. 1860 Tennyson Sea Dreams 69 Ah love, there surely lives in man and beast Something divine to warn them of their foes. |
4. a. To give (a person) cautionary notice or advice with regard to actions or conduct; to caution against neglect of duty or against wrong or mistaken action or belief.
| c 1000 ælfric Saints' Lives xvii. 72 Forðan butan ic eow warniᵹe and þone wol eow forbeode ic sceal aᵹyldan ᵹescead þam soðfæstan deman. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 117 Ᵹif þu wernast þane unrihtwise mon and he nule icherran from his sunnan þurh þe. c 1200 Vices & Virtues 11 Ðar ic ðe scal undernemen mid ða ilche wordes ðe ðu ofte hafst ȝeherd for ðe te warnien. a 1225 Ancr. R. 270 Ine swuche manere tentaciuns nis non so wis ne so war, but ȝif God ham warnie, þet nis bigiled oðer hwules. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 425 He was afterward i-warned by febilnesse of his body, and þo he was i-cristenede. c 1400 Rule St. Benet xlviii. 33 Þai sal be warnid ane tyme, and a-noþir time. Yef sho wil noht a-mende, Man sal take suilk amendis of hir. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye i. xi. 31 Often tymes when other were moste besy in prayer, he wente out and wandryd aboute,..whan his abbot had often warned hym, and he amendyd not. 1535 Coverdale Ps. ii. 10 Be wyse now therfore (o ye kynges) be warned, ye that are iudges of the earth. 1581 S'hampton Crt. Leet Rec. (1905) I. ii. 206 Wherof we have thought good to amerse them at 2/6, for that they have byne often tymes warrened and no redresse. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 831 Sheep, Oxen, Horses fall; and..lye. 'Till warn'd by frequent Ills, the way they found, To lodge their loathsom Carrion under Ground. 1780 Cowper Progr. Err. 35 Divine authority within his breast..Warns him or prompts, approves him or restrains. 1852 Thackeray Esmond i. ix, [He] marshalled the village boys,..domineering over them with a fine imperious spirit, that made his father laugh when he beheld it, and his mother fondly warn him. |
| absol. c 1440 Jacob's Well 202 Ȝif þou seest thefte be do,..& wylt noȝt telle, warne, ne speke, whan þou myȝt lettyn it. 1781 Cowper Expost. 441 The priestly brotherhood..Prompt to persuade, expostulate, and warn. 1804 Wordsw. ‘She was a Phantom’ 28 A perfect Woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command. |
b. Const. against; also with inf. or subordinate clause, or † double object.
| c 1000 ælfric Saints' Lives xvii. 68 Ᵹelome ic eow warnode and..cuðlice manode þat ᵹe andsætan wiᵹlunge þe unwise men healdað mid ealle forlætan. c 1290 Beket 1078 in S. Eng. Leg. 137 Þo it was to-war[d] eue twei seriaunz þare come, Sore weopinde, and warnede him þat he sum red him nome. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 229, I speke it for no mannes blame, Bot forto warne thee the same. Ibid. II. 49 And warneth alle for mi sake, Of love that thei ben noght ydel. a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 26 Bot warne þe lech þe pacient that he dispose hym so þat he remoue noȝt þe medycyne. a 1450 Mirk's Festial 199 And þagh hit [St. Margaret's Day] be a lyȝt holyday..I warne you..þat ȝe wol fast hor evyn. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye i. xiii. 37 They warne the riche to knowe themself and not to be prowde. 1540 Palsgr. Acolastus i. iii. F iij, My father wyll neuer geue me this money, but he wyll first warne me..that I shall not waste it prodigallye. 1594 Kyd Cornelia v. 95 Caesar..euery Regiment warn'd with a worde Brauely to fight for honor of the day. 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 185 The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warnd Thir sinful state, and to appease betimes Th' incensed Deitie while offerd grace Invites. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. ii. 39, I warn also those that come to Aleppo that they fail not to see the Birds of Grandouilles. 1702 Addison Dial. Medals i. Wks. 1721 I. 446, I must only warn you, that you do not charge your Coins with more uses than they can bear. 1718 Prior Solomon ii. 936 The Father, whilst he warn'd his erring Son, The sad Examples which He ought to shun, Describ'd, and only nam'd not, Solomon. 1781 Cowper Hope 355 The screaming nations..seem to warn him never to repeat His bold intrusion on their dark retreat. 1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. xvii. 295 His page delivered a letter..It warned him not to attend in his place in parliament. 1852 W. Collins Basil III. i. 6 You..may be tempted to tear up my letter, and throw it from you unread. I warn you not to do so; I warn you to read what I have written. Ibid. III. i. 74 Be warned, therefore, against seeking a false hope in the belief that my faculties are shaken. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. iii. 266 The ambassador warned him on peril of his life to deal no further with such things. 1868 Morris Earthly Par. (1870) I. i. 33 Yet, fellows, must I warn you not to shout Ere we have left the troublous wood behind. |
| † absol. c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 22 And he warnyd þat on no wyse no man sulde know þat it wer a womman. 1526 Tindale Gal. ii. 10 Then Iames, Cephas and Iohn..agreed with vs, that we shuld preache amonge the Hethen, and they amonge the Iewes: warnynge only that we shulde remember the poore. |
† c. Const. of. Obs.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 6905 And y warne ȝow alle of o þyng, Forþenkeþ nat of ȝoure almess-ȝyuyng. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 214 His wyf warnede him þo of wikkednesse and of sinne. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 72 Þe kirk makiþ lawis; and schuld wern men þer of, þat þei offendid not þer in. a 1529 Skelton Bowge of Courte 106 But of one thynge I werne you er I goo, She that styreth the shyp, make her your frende. 1541 Elyot Image Gov. xvi. 29 b, Than sadlye and with a wonderfull grauitie, he wolde admonest or warn him of his lacke in diligence. |
† d. Const. from.
| 1765 Museum Rust. IV. 264 When I began farming, I was warned from expecting profit, by two different sets of people. |
5. To inform, notify. Now only in restricted use, to notify of something requiring attention. a. To inform or notify of something actual.
| c 1205 Lay. 30639 And al þat he auunde in þan lufte & bi þan grunde Þurh ælches cunnes þing he warnede æure ædwine king. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 205 But litil leue we þat lud, i þe warne. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 30 He warnede watte his wyf was to blame, Þat hire hed was worþ a Mark. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints ii. (Paul) 729 For is na payne, we wele þe [sc. Nero] warne, In life sa gret as to ber barne. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame 893 Now see..yonde adovne Wher that thou knowest any tovne..And whan thou hast of ought knowynge Looke that thou warne me And y anoon shall telle the How fer that thou art now therfro. 1389 in Eng. Gilds 5 Ȝif eny of þe brethren..be chosen wardein in þ⊇ bretherhede,..he shal take þ⊇ charge al-sone as he is warned þerof. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxviii. 128 Þe emperour þat was warned of þaire fleyng lay before þam with his oste. c 1480 Henryson Test. Cress. 359 Ane Chyld come fra the hall, To warne Cresseid the Supper was reddy. 1530 Palsgr. 772/1, I warne one of a mater in processe, je intime... No man hath warned me yet. 1836 Dickens Sk. Boz, Visit to Newgate, The deathlike stillness of the street without..warns him that the night is waning fast away. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xviii. 114 Count Eustace (of Boulogne) was warned that the wished for moment was come. 1880 Mrs. Parr Adam & Eve II. 25 The clock warned them it was time to get ready. 1886 C. Scholl Phraseol. Dict. II. 832 The broker did not warn us of the arrival of the vessel. |
| † absol. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvi. viii. (1495) 557 The adamas [the stone adamant] warnyth of venim [L. dicitur..venena deprehendere] as Electrum dooth. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. ii. 1 And chearefull Chaunticlere with his note shrill Had warned once, that Phœbus fiery carre In hast was climbing vp the Easterne hill. |
† b. To tell (a person) when it is time to do something. Obs.
| c 1325 Chron. Eng. 507 When the on condle wes ydo, The aht tiden weren alsuo; The kyng he warnede by thon, Hys purpos ariht to don. 1539–40 in Devon N. & Q. (1903) Oct. 238 Payed to a man for his labor to warne the lymers to bryng more lyme when ther lyme was almost don. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. vi. 121 Now the setting Sun had warn'd the Swain To call his counted Cattle from the Plain. |
† c. to warn custos: in school language, to inform the ‘custos’ or monitor of a misdemeanour: in quot. indirect passive. Obs.
| 1558 R. Ramsey Serm. Child Bishop (Camden) 28 Yf a scoler in the gramer scole speak false Lattyn or Englysh forbyddyn, he is takyn withall of one or the other and warnyd custos to be beatyn. Ibid., Let them be first warnyd custos, or wrong by the ears for it, and after be correctyd as the custos is usyd. |
d. To give previous notice to. More definitely † to warn before (obs.). Const. with of, subord. clause, or infinitive.
| c 1275 Lay. 22059 Leteþ blowe bumes warnie cnihtes..Þat ich faren wolle. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1056 We ssolle hom warni of oure þoȝt ar we þanne wende. a 1300 Cursor M. 10933 Speke we nu of zachari, hu þe angel com him to warn, he suld haue Ion, þat seli barn. c 1330 Otuel 1691 Otuwel..warende fore a non þo Rouland & oliuer bo. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame 1559, I werne yow hit, quod she anon, Ye gete of me good fame non. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 385 Oon of his prisoneres þat was konnynge in devyne warned hym þat he schulde sone be delyvered out of prisoun. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xviii. 97 Astronomyens al day in here art faillen, That whilom warned men by-fore what shoulde by-falle after. c 1440 York Myst. xxii. 84 Þi biddyng will I noȝt full-fill, Þat warne I þe. 1483 Acta Audit. in Acta Dom. Conc. II. Introd. 114 The day that he was warnit to ressave the some conteint in his said reversione. 1534 Abstr. Protocols Town Clerks of Glasgow (1897) IV. 67 Allane C{ddd}hes warnyt Janet Boyd, at hyr awn dwelling place within Glasgow, to rasaef ane hundretht merk..upon Wytsunday evyn. 1551 Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1880) II. 71 Our said place at all tymes salbe..reddy to ws..als oft as it salhappyn ws..to cum thairto..we warnand thame thairto xxiiij houris warnyng of befor. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xli, The mourning being ready, and Sir Pitt Crawley warned of their arrival, Colonel Crawley and his wife took a couple of places in the..Highflyer coach. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. xxxi. (1878) 533 But I warn you I will call again very soon. |
e. absol. or intr. Of a clock: To make the clicking or whirring noise which indicates that it is about to strike; to ‘give warning’. [So G. warnen.] dial.
| 1846 M. A. Richardson Local Historian's Table-bk., Leg. Div. I. 116 And just as the clock warned for twal' the hin'most game was concludet. 1885 W. Towers Poems 189 (E.D.D.) Hark! the clock is warning ten. 1894 Hall Caine Manxman iii. xviii, Every time the clock warned to strike, she felt one hour nearer her doom. |
6. a. To notify of something commanded; to order under penalties.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1808 We buþ y-sent to þe, Balan..to warnye þe by-forn, þe nayles þow scholdest him ȝelde aȝeyn..& elles þow gest a torn. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 153 He was i-warned by an aungel þat he schulde translate Clement his body. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1092 Pelleus full prestly the peopull did warne To appere in his presens. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 2208 For by a uysione seynt Dunstone was y-warnot of þat cas Þat Alphege..Of Wynchester shulde bysshoppe y-sacrid be. c 1450 Mankind 516 in Macro Plays 20 Com a-gayn, I werne, as sone as I yow call. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 53 [He] gert warne all his obeysaunce of Lombardye to mak thame redy to bataill. 1483 Acta Audit. in Acta Dom. Conc. II. Introd. 115 That he..profferit the said some..to the said William the said day that he was warnit to. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles vi. v, His royal summons warn'd the land, That all who own'd their King's command Should instant take the spear and brand, To combat at his side. |
† b. to warn in: to order to come in. Obs.
| 1654 Whitelocke Swed. Ambassy (1772) I. 176 So many waggons were warned in..because of the smalleness of them, and the great quantity of baggage and provision. |
c. To notify (a person) to go from, out of (a place), away, thence.
| 1592 Arden of Feversham i. 353 To warne him on the sudden from my house Were too confirme the rumour that is growne. 1697 Dryden æneis Ded. (d) 2 He had already chidden the Rebellious Winds..: He had warn'd them from the Seas. Ibid. iv. 546 Now Hermes is employed from Jove's abode, To warn him hence. 1847 Tennyson Princess v. 328 He batter'd at the doors; none came: the next, An awful voice within had warn'd him thence. 1853 Dickens Bleak Ho. lvii, So having warned him out of London, I [Inspector Bucket] made an afternoon of it to warn him to keep out of it now he was away. 1868 L. M. Alcott Little Women vi, She never saw Laurie mount guard in the hall to warn the servants away. |
d. to warn off: to notify (a person) to keep at a distance. Also fig.
| 1842 Tennyson Love & Duty 46 For Love himself took part against himself To warn us off. 1853 Dickens Bleak Ho. xxviii, ‘Pray, Mr. Rouncewell,’ says my Lady, warning Sir Leicester off with the slightest gesture of her pretty hand, as if he were a fly, ‘explain to me what you mean.’ 1858 E. M. Sewell Ursula I. x. 108 He warned her off admirably, not letting her know anything he chose to keep to himself. |
e. To give notice to (a person) to keep off (private ground). Also with off adv. Also fig.
| 1815 Scott Guy M. iii, There's Dunbog has warned the Red Rotten and John Young aff his grunds. 1848 Athenæum 10 June 579/3 Can the fact of Mr. Prior's having written a biography of Goldsmith give him the right to warn all others off the ground? 1863 Mrs. Gaskell Dark Night's Work x. 176 Miss Monro stole out after the doctor to warn him off the subject for the future. 1872 Yeats Growth Comm. 303 All merchants being warned off from Indian commerce as poachers from a preserve. 1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 249 ‘Go for’ a building, and not hang around like a tramp to be..warned off by timid caretakers. |
f. Racing. to warn off the course: To prohibit (a defaulter against the laws of the Jockey Club) from riding or running horses at meetings under its jurisdiction. Also with off adv.
The expression was finally deleted from the Jockey Club's Rules of Racing in 1969 when the Jockey Club and National Hunt Committee amalgamated, and the course and training grounds at Newmarket were transferred to the Newmarket Estates and Property Co. Ltd.
| 1845 Racing Calendar 1844 p. lii, Samuel Rogers and John Braham were warned off the Course and exercising ground at Newmarket. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Sports ii. i. xiv. §4. 375 [The Stewards of the Jockey Club] have full power to warn off recusants [at Newmarket.].. Other races are held under the same conditions as the Newmarket, but, being on public land, there is not often the power to warn off improper characters, as at Newmarket, Goodwood, and some few others. 1861 Sporting Rev. June 474 Mr. Bryan having admitted that he gave orders to his jockey to lose the race, it was resolved, ‘That Mr. Bryan be warned off the course at Newmarket, and other places where the Jockey Club have jurisdiction, for the year 1861.’ 1900 Quiller-Couch Old Fires iii. 55 If I'd been warned off Newmarket Heath..shouldn't I feel just as you are feeling. |
† g. absol. To notify a requirement, give an order for. Obs.
| 1530 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford (1880) 80 He had..brewed..xxxti quarters malt which they had warnyd for, and so they wold not receyve theyr ale at the tyme it was sent to them. |
7. a. To summon (a person to a duty, place, etc.). In later use chiefly, To summon officially; to command the attendance of. Now only Mil.
| a 1250 Owl & Night. 330 Hwenne ich iseo arise veorre oþer day rewe oþer day steorre Ich do god mid mine þrote & warni men to hore note. c 1430 Chev. Assigne 190 Lette sommene þy folke... And she wendeth here adown & lette hem a-none warne. 1530 Palsgr. 771/2, I warne a man to apere at a courte in judgement, je somme. 1550 Crowley Epigr. 253 When he should warne a guest in sessions to appeare. 1574 in Maitl. Club Misc. I. 99 M. Symsone being wernit to ansuer the kirk super inquirendis. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, i. iii. 39, I Madam he desires to make attonement Betweene the Duke of Glouster, and your Brothers,..And sent to warne them to his Royall presence. 1595 ― John ii. i. 201 Who is it that hath warn'd vs to the walles? 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. v. i. 319 Sirha goe warne them hether presently before me. 1608 Bp. Hall Char. Vertues & Vices ii. 122 When he is warned on a Iurie, hee had rather pay the mulct, than appeare. 1610 T. Lorkin in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. III. 221 Which entertains him till twelve of the clock, when the bell warns him to dinner. 1663 (27 Aug.) in Orders of Council Naval Service (1866) I. 165 And other officers belonging to His Majestye's yards and Navy, are many times warned to attend His Majestye's service at Assizes and Sessions, [etc.]. 1676 Office Clerk of Assise (a viij), The names of such as the Bailiffs shall warn for the great Inquest. 1802 C. James Milit. Dict., Warned, admonished of some duty to be performed at a given time or place. Thus officers and soldiers are warned for guard, &c. 1809 Kendall Trav. I. v. 29 The constables are required to summon or as it is said to warn all the freemen to meet together yearly. 1860 G. J. Whyte-Melville Holmby House II. xix. 288 [He] commanded that the guard..should be relieved every four hours, and that the same men should not be warned twice for this duty until after the execution. |
| absol. a 1562 G. Cavendish Wolsey (1893) 103 My lord's officers caused the truppetts [sic] to blowe to warne to supper. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles iv. xxix, Brother, for little space, farewell! To other duties warns the bell. |
† b. To call, give notice of (a meeting). Obs.
| 1465 Marg. Paston in P. Lett. II. 239 On Saterday last was, Jenney ded warne a corte at Calcotte to be holde ther in hys name. 1617 Eastland Co. (Camden) 12 If any Courte be warned and for wante of Assistants the same bee not full. 1792 N. Chipman Rep. (1871) 10 The Clerk has not inserted (in the record) that the proprietor's meeting was regularly warned. |
† 8. To give (a person) notice to leave his employment or tenancy. Also to warn out. Obs. (but see warning vbl. n. 6).
| 14.. in Babees Bk. (1868) 329 And they that wylle not here that ȝe say, effectually be they ywarnyd, and ye shalle prouide other seruantis. 1702 Luttrell Brief Rel. V. 208 The duke of Somerset..has (by her majesties order) turned out 40 grooms of the stables, and warned out others who had lodgings and stables at the Meuse. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), To Warn,..to bid one provide for himself elsewhere. 1713 W. Hawkins Life Bp. Ken 8 The Prince..threatned to turn him from the Service [sc. chaplaincy to P'cess of Orange]; which the Doctor resenting..warn'd himself from the Service, and would not return to the Court. 1850 Bentley's Misc. XXVIII. 284 We're teetotally ruined... Warned out by the landlady... Where are we to move into, and obtain a lodging! |
Hence warned ppl. a.
| 1639 J. Clarke Parœm. 21 Warn'd folkes may live. |
▪ III. † warn, v.2 Obs.
Forms: α. 1 wiernan, wirnan, wyrnan, wærnan, 3 wearne, 3–4 wurne, 3–5 wern, (3 worne, 5 wernne), weerne, 2–6 werne; β. 1 wearnian, war(e)nian, 3–5 warn, 3–4 Sc. varn, 4–6 warne.
[Two formations: (1) OE. wiernan = OFris. werna, ON. verna (Da. værne):—OTeut. *warnjan; (2) OE. wearnian (also warnian, warenian, by confusion with warn v.1) = OFris. warna, OS. (Hildebr.) warnen, ON. varna (Sw. varna):—OTeut. *warnōjan. The two OTeut. types are f. *warnō fem. (OE. wearn) obstacle, refusal, etc., f. the root *wer-: *war- to obstruct, defend.
It is possible that the ME. and later form warn(e may descend partly from the OE. wearnian; influence from ON. varna is also possible. But the form would be normal as a dial. variant of werne:—OE. wiernan; on the other hand the ME. werne may partly represent OE. wearnian. The α and β types therefore probably do not accurately correspond to the two original formations.]
1. trans. To refuse or deny (a thing to a person); to refuse to grant (a boon, request, etc.).
In OE. and early ME. const. dat. of person and gen. of thing; later, the genitive is sometimes represented by the construction with of, but more freq. by the accusative.
| α c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xlix. 380 Se þe ne wiernð [MS. Hatton wirnð] ðæs wines his lare ða mod mid to oferdrencanne þe hiene ᵹehieran willað. a 1000 Riddles xxi. 11 (Gr.) Cyning mec ᵹyrweð since & seolfre & mec on sele weorþað: ne wyrneð word-lofes. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud. MS.) an. 1048 Þa wyrnde him mann ðera ᵹisla. c 1205 Lay. 30310 For ne scal he nauere..kine-helme broken and ȝif he hit wule auon ich hit wulle wernen. c 1250 Song to Virg. 39 in O.E. Misc. 195 He wyl nout werne þe þi bone. 1340 Ayenb. 189 Vor þet he him wernde his elmesse, god him wernde ane drope of weter þer he wes ine uere of helle. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame 1539 They..seyde, Graunte vs..of thy grace a bone. And somme of hem she graunted sone And somme she werned wel and faire, and some she graunted the contraire Of her axyng. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 275 Þe Romaynes asked her tribute: and Sicambri werned it and wolde none paye. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. iv. 47 Yet al thing desyreth ye werne no man of helpe. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 1847 But his hert is ful applied To graunte, and nat þe needy werne his grace. 1414 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 22/2 To graunte whiche of thoo that you luste, & to wernne the remanent. c 1430 Devils' Parl. 406 Quod helle ‘not wiþ þy [Satan's] poowere I myȝte not werne him [Christ] oon of tho; He took out alle þat were him dere’. c 1475 Partenay Prol. 126 Hys commaundment wern shal I no-thing. Ibid. 86 Take here vnto you which you best do plese, No man shall ther-of you werne ne withsay. |
| β a 1000 Guthlac 1183 [1156] in Exeter Bk. 176 Ic me warnade hyre onsyne ealle þraȝe in woruld-life. c 1205 Lay. 4719 & Belin him war[n]de [c 1275 wornede] al þat he ȝernde. a 1300 Cursor M. 4939, I receiud þam and warnd ham noght Of alle thing þai me be-soght. Ibid. 28889 Be man neuer sua wik of mode men agh noght warn him his liues fode. 1375 Barbour Bruce xviii. 332 And tald thame quhat kyn velcummyng Dowglass thaim maid..And varnyt thame the playn herbery. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 101 Nabugodonosor byseged Ierusalem for tribute Þat was i-warned hym. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 1467–8 ‘For me had leuer’, quod þe lede, ‘be lethirely forsworn..Þan anys haue greuyd þat gome, or warned him his erand! Þat euer I warned him his will, wa is me þat stonde!’ c 1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Aug. xxxvii. 47 Swech mete and drynk as he had in vse was not warned to no man þat wold ask it. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 148 Ȝe suld nocht warne me leve. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xvi. xi. 679 And yf thou warne her loue she shalle goo dye anone yf thou haue no pyte on her, that sygnefyeth the grete byrd, the whiche shalle make the to warne her. |
b. Of a thing: To prevent (a person) from having (something).
| a 1240 Ureisun in O.E. Hom. I. 187 Mine sunnen beoþ wal bi-tweone me and þe. Mine sunnen werneþ me al þis swotnesse. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 700, I may wery the wye, thatt this werre mouede, That warnes me wyrchippe of my wedde lorde. |
c. With dat. of person only: To refuse the request of; to deny something to.
| α c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. v. 42 Þam þe wylle æt þe borᵹian, ne wyrn þu hym. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 137 Mon sulðe his elmesse þenne he heo ᵹefeð swulche monne ðe he for scome wernen ne mei. a 1225 Ancr. R. 330 [She] halseð ure Louerd so & he ne mei uor reouðe wernen hire. a 1272 A Luue Ron 7 in O.E. Misc. 93 A Mayde cristes me bit yorne þat ich hire wurche a luue ron... Ich hire nule nowiht werne. a 1300 K. Horn (Hall) 1404 Fikenhild gan wende Rymenhild to schende. To woȝe he gan hure ȝerne, Þe kyng ne dorste him werne. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xx. 12 For thre thynges he taketh his lyf forto saue, That is, mete, whan men hym werneth and he no moneye weldeth, [etc.]. c 1400 Love Bonavent. Mirr. vi. (Sherard MS.), Whan she..asked herbergh in diuerse places..alle they werned [Gibbs MS. weerne, W. de W. refused] hem and lete hem go. c 1420 Sir Amadace (Camd.) xiii, Quil he hade any gud to take, He wernut no mon. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour 31 Her husbonde must nedis ordeine her that she desirithe,..for thei wol finde so mani resones that thei wille not be werned. c 1475 Partenay 82 Of thes thre on [i.e. one] your plesire do and take,..Reson is ne right that you werne shold y. |
| β c 1400 Rom. Rose 2604 And who-so askith folily, He moot be warned hastily. c 1420 Wyntoun Cron. ii. iii. 201 Iacob warnyt hym vttraly. |
d. To refuse (to do something).
| α a 1225 Ancr. R. 248 Þeo ancre þet wernde an oðer a cwaer uorto lenen. a 1300 Cursor M. 12106 If þou him wenis for to lern, To lere him wel we þe noght wern. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 1367 Ȝe sigge ich wern mi nem to wiue, For y schuld be ȝour king. |
| β c 900 Bæda's Hist. v. xx. [xxii.] (1890) 474 Ond he blissade in þon, þæt..he ᵹeseah þa his ᵹeherend þone Eastordæᵹ onfon,..þone hie simle ær þon warenedon to anfonne [L. quem semper antea vitabant]. a 1300 Cursor M. 3040 Hir bidding do sal þou not warn. Ibid. 3261 For quas luue he wild not warn To sacrifise his auen barn. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xii. Introd. (Tollemache MS.), Þat man may be a schamid..to warne to serue fader and moder, while he knoweþ þat briddes and foules serueþ..euerichone oþer. |
e. absol. To make refusal.
| α 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7553 Of þe heyemen of þe lond..He esste ostage strong inou & hii ne ssolde noȝt wurne, Ac toke him ostage god. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 130 The wylde loves rage..Hath mad him that he can noght werne, Bot fell al hol to hire assent. 1406 Hoccleve La Male Regle 430 For estaat real can nat al day werne. |
| β 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 30 Thai ar..nocht large of gift, and redily wil tak and wele can warne. |
2. To refuse to allow (some action or course of action) to a person; to forbid (a person) to do something.
| α c 893 ælfred Oros. i. vii. §1 Hi ær Moyse & hys folce þæs utfæreldes wyrndon. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 330 Ᵹeorne is to wyrnanne bearneacnum wife þæt hio aht sealtes ete oððe swetes. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2966 Eft he comen to pharaon, And he wernede ðis folc ut-gon. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1021 Holy chyrche wyl þe werne þe halyday to go to þe tauerne,..whan goddys seruyse owyþ to be doun. c 1386 Chaucer Wife's Prol. 333 He is to greet a nygard that wolde werne A man to lighte his candle at his lanterne. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 162 Thogh it be noght the houndes kinde To ete chaf, yit wol he werne An Oxe which comth to the berne Therof to taken eny fode. c 1449 Pecock Repr. ii. ii. 146 And therfore thilk processe hath no strengthe forto weerne ymagis of God to be had and vsid in the chirche. |
| β 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 7985 And na thing salle þam warn ne lett, To do þair wille whare-swa it es sett. c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 2261 For nane other enchesowne, Bot for i warned hym to wyve My doghter. 1550 Crowley Informacion 142 Whoe shall warne me to do wyth myne owne as me selfe lysteth. 1550 S'hampton Crt. Leet Rec. (1905) I. i. 12 And that theye warne none to have Ale for theire money so theye have yt in theire houses. 1591–5 C'tess Pembroke Lay of Clorinda 12 in Spenser's Astrophel, From them [the heavens] comes good, from them comes also il, That which they made, who can them warne to spill. |
b. Of a thing: To forbid, not to allow of (some action or procedure). Also absol.
| α c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 255 Ᵹif hæto oþþe meht ne wyrne læt him blod. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. ix. 19 Yf so benygne And loughly be the vyne hit not to werne. |
3. To refuse, forbid, deny (entry, the gate, door, way, one's house). Constr. dat. of person or from.
| α ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 442 From hir the gate ay [? read shal] werned be Of paradys. c 1400 Rom. Rose 5840 But whan he prayde hir, pore was he, Therfore she warned him the entree. 14.. St. Alexius 18 (Cott. MS.) Of all pormen of ylk a gate, there was none þat werned þ⊇ yate. c 1420 Avow. Arth. ix, Quo-so wernes me the waye, Hym to dethe diȝte! |
| β 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles iii. 233 Þe portir with his pikis þo put him vttere, And warned him þe wickett while þe wacche durid. c 1400 Destr. Troy 5251 All þat warnyt hym þe way he warpet to ground. c 1400 Rom. Rose 7502 The hous, quod he, such as ye see, Shal nat be warned you for me. c 1440 J. Capgrave St. Kath. i. 737 Þere was no ȝate warnyd to no-maner wyte, But..þei were kept opyn both day & nyth. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 61 Quhen Julius Cesar was cummyn to Rome, thai durst nocht warne him the portis. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. ccxxviii. (1811) 257 The Kynge..warned hym y⊇ entre of his lande. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girl D 2, Mist. Open. Get you from my shop. Mol. I come to buy. Mist. Open. Ile sell ye nothing, I warne yee my house and shop. |
b. To forbid, exclude (a person from a place or position, Death from a person). Cf. warn v.1 6 c.
| α ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 636 Fro thilke assemblee, if I may, Shal no man werne me to-day. 1536 Primer Salisb., Eng. & Lat. 145 Of sapiens thou art eterne Frome the and thy father who can the werne. |
| β 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. i. 36 But if that carelesse heauens (quoth she) despise The doome of iust reuenge,..Yet can they not warne death from wretched wight. |
c. To stop the way of.
| α a 1225 Ancr. R. 60 (MS. T.) Hund wile in at open dure, þer man him ne wernes. c 1300 K. Horn 725 (Laud MS.) To boure he gan ȝerne Durst hym noman werne. |
| β 1375 Barbour Bruce ii. 137 The Dowglas then his way has tane Rycht to the hors, as he him bad: Bot he, that him in ȝhemsell had, Than warnyt hym dispitously. |
4. To prevent, hinder, restrain (a person or thing) from action. Const. with clause or inf.
| α c 888 ælfred Boeth. xli. §4 He..us ne wernð [v.r. wyrnþ] þæt we yfel don. a 1225 Ancr. R. 408 Ȝif eni luuede þe ariht, he muhte holden þe, & wearnen þe to smiten. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7063 What he wold do, non durste hym werne. 1382 Wyclif Gen. xxiii. 6 In our chosun berielis birye thi deed, and no man shal mow wern [1388 forbede, Vulg. prohibere] thee. a 1400 St. Alexius 516 (Laud MS. 463) So sone so she to him come, vpon þe liche she fel y-lome... On þe liche she lay, & nolde not wond, Mighte noman hire werne. c 1502 Joseph Arim. 164 To delyuer goddes seruauntes he sayd he wolde; I knowe no maner man that shall me werne. |
| β a 1300 Cursor M. 2726 ‘And quat thing es,’ he said, ‘may warn þat godd ne may his will of do?’ Ibid. 13733 ‘Vs thinc to lang we duell,’ said þai, ‘Qua warns yow to wend a-wai?’ c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 50 Ȝif þei ben his riȝtfully oure kyng may not warne ne lette his hoste to reste in þo places. c 1400 Sege Melayne 500 Thay stirtt vp on those stedis full steryn, Þay fande no man þat þam wolde warne. c 1520 Skelton Magnyf. 1833 My hawke..Flewe..in to an olde barne, To reche at a rat, I coude not her warne. |
b. Phrases, to warn (a person) his will or of his will; to warn (a person's) thoughts.
| α 1340–70 Alisaunder 905 But all his werk was in waste, þei werned his thoughtes. c 1400 Destr. Troy 7288 He was tarriet with the Troiens..And wernit of his wille, þof hym wo thoght. |
| β [a 1400–50: cf. 1 β.] c 1400 Destr. Troy 6465 Thay pre⁓set so the prince with power of knightes, Þat þai warnit hym his wille, & away put. a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 3011 Trowiste thow to warne me of my wille? |
c. To resist.
| α c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 85 In þe deie of liureisun..he wile ison hwiche boð þo þet muȝe stonden aȝein þes fleisces lust and wernen his aȝene fleisces iwille. |
| β a 1300 Cursor M. 22342 Sal nan ha might þair might to warn. |
5. To refuse to take or accept.
| α c 1300 Havelok 926 Sit now doun and et ful yerne: Daþeit hwo þe mete werne! 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1824 Ho bede hit hym ful bysily, & he hir bode wernes. |
| β a 1300 Cursor M. 16236 Coth pilate,..to varn yur consail better it es þan to do mar foli. |
b. To deny (a statement).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 21334 Þe stat of ilk ewangelist Bers in him-self vr lauerd crist. He es man and ox, leon, and ern, Mai na skilful man þis wern. |
▪ IV. † warn, v.3 Obs. rare.
[a. OF. warnir (var. of garnir garnish v.) a. Teut. *warnjan: see warn v.2]
trans. To fortify; to protect, defend. lit. and fig.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace 8836 Ageyn þe Bretons þey cam right ȝerne Þe lond ȝyf þey myghte þem werne. 1338 ― Chron. (1725) 39 Þe toun was warned wele. Ibid. 268 Now gos þis Thomas, his treson to purchace, But how Edward was warned þorgh Gode's grace [Fr. Coment la grace Jhesu Krist Ly gentiz ray Edward de la tresun garnyst]. c 1400 Rule St. Benet (Prose) lxix. 45 Þat nane defende ne warne oþir for nane achesun. [L. ne presumat alius alium defendere.] 1449 Pecock Repr. v. vi. 517 For to close and kepe and hegge yn and werne so manye persoones fro so miche gretter synnes. |
Hence † warned ppl. a. Obs.
| a 1300 E.E. Psalter xxx. 22 He selkouthed to me His mercy in warned cite [Vulg. in civitate munita]. |
▪ V. warn
obs. pa. tense pl. of be v.; obs. f. warrant n.1