v. [f. FORE- pref. + WARN v.]

1

  1.  trans. To warn, caution, or admonish beforehand; also, to give previous notice to. Const. of, to with inf., or that with obj. sentence.

2

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 96. Þe bisshop þouht treson, for warned was Henry.

3

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. John xvi. 4. I thought mete to forewarne you hereof, that when these discommodities falleth vpon you, ye maye the more paciently and with lesse hertebreake beare them.

4

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., IV. vii. 17.

        We were fore-warned of your comming,
And shut the Gates, for safetie of our selues.

5

1667.  Milton, P. L., VII. 40.

          Say Goddess, what ensu’d when Raphael,
The affable Arch-angel, had forewarn’d
Adam by dire example to beware
Apostasie.

6

1692.  Washington, trans. Milton’s Def. Pop., ii. (1851), 60. As Samuel forewarns the People that theirs would degenerate into Pride and Tyranny?

7

1741.  C. Middleton, Cicero, II. VII. 101. I call the gods and men, and our friendship, to witness, that what I have told, and forewarned you of, was not any vain conceit of my own.

8

1836.  H. Coleridge, North. Worthies (1852), I. 27 Their indefatigable member forewarns them of the difficulties likely to stand in their way, and of the small support he meets with in his suit.

9

  absol.  1651.  C. Cartwright, Certamen Religiosum, I. 110. He foreshews that many should come in his name, pretending themselves to be Christ, and forewarnes to beware of them.

10

1667.  Milton, P. L., XII. 507.

                But in thir room, as they forewarne,
Wolves shall succeed for teachers.

11

1860.  Merc. Marine Mag., VII. 360. The progress of a cyclone may be telegraphed, and might secure many a ship from danger by forewarning.

12

Prov.

13

[1592, 1768–74; see FOREARM v.]

14

a. 1688.  Bunyan, Heart’s Ease, 148. Forewarned, forearmed.

15

1855.  Kingsley, Glaucus (1878), 31. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

16

  † 2.  To announce beforehand, prophesy. Obs.

17

1583.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 82.

        Only on displeasaunt foule shapte byrd, the Harpye Celæno
(Forwarns much mischiefe too coom with dangerus hunger).

18