Pa. t. and pa. 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. 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 ʓebroðra wið þæs deofles to-cyme.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., xii. (1883), 79. Þæt hy godes folc warnian ʓelome wið þone eʓesan, þe mannum is towerd.
c. 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 ȝit ho me wulleð lusten. Ibid., 228. Ich wulle tellen of hello 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. Alex. 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. Ibid. (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, Conmmon-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 daʓum beoð onwriʓene 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, trans. Secreta Secret., 195. She was all venym; And yef I had not varnyte the therof at the furste tuching she had shent the.
1577. T. Kendall, Flowers Epigr., 62. Warnde of my foe, I shunne my foe.
1594. Shaks., 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 be 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. 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 warniʓe and þone wol eow forbeode ic sceal aʓyldan ʓescead þam soðfæstan deman.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 117. ʓif 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 be 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. ʓelome ic eow warnode and … cuðlice manode þat ʓe andsætan wiʓlunge 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. trans. 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 warn 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, trans. 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.
1848. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. xvii. 295. ‘And his page delivered a letter—’
Still no variation of colour or expression.
‘It warned him not to attend in his place in parliament, and it came from you.’
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 þe bretherhede,… he shal take þe charge al-sone as he is warned þerof.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxviii. 128. Þo 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 misdemeanor: 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 for: byddyn, 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 be.
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 Glasgow (1897), IV. 67. Allane C. … 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. 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, Lord 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. Louisa 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. Eliz. 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 all 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.
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. 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. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 39. I Madam he desires to make attonement Between the Duke of Glouster, and your Brothers,… And sent to warne them to his Royall presence. Ibid. (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 Assize (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. 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, Lord 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. sb. 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’s 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.
