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forwarn. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
forwarn, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
forwarn in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
forwarn you have here. The definition of the word
forwarn will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
forwarn, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle English forwernen, from Old English forwærnan, forwoernan, forwiernan (“to hinder, prohibit, prevent, repel, refuse, repudiate, deny, withhold, oppose”), from Proto-Germanic *fra-, *fur-, *far- (“for-”) + *warnijaną (“to care, worry”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to close, cover, protect, defend”), equivalent to for- + warn (“to deny, refuse, forbid”).
Verb
forwarn (third-person singular simple present forwarns, present participle forwarning, simple past and past participle forwarned)
- (transitive) To prohibit; forbid; deny (right, access to, etc.).
1690, Thomas Shadwell, The amorous bigotte:Oh Cousin this wicked Duoena, this Grycta suspects the good Woman who brought the Letter, and has forwarn'd her the House.
1708, Samuel Sewall, Diary:I meet the Workman by Mr. Pemberton's Gate, and forewarn him from making of it; [...]
1840, Charles Lamb, Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd, The works of Charles Lamb:[...] having been caught putting the inside of the master's desk to a use for which the architect had clearly not designed it, to justify himself, with great simplicity averred, that he did not know that the thing had been forewarned.