[OE. war(e)nung, wearning, fem., f. war(e)nian, wearnian, WARN v.1: see -ING1. Cf. OHG. warnunga (MHG. warnunge, mod.G. warnung).] The action of WARN v.1
† 1. Taking heed, precaution. Obs.
Spenser’s use suggests that the antithesis of ‘warning’ and ‘weird’ (fate) may have survived proverbially.
c. 1000. Sal. & Sat., 427. Full oft ic frode menn fyrn ʓehyrde Secgan … hwæðer wære tweʓra … strengra, wyrd ðe warnung.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. iv. 27. But ah, who can deceiue his destiny, Or weene by warning to auoyd his fate?
2. Previous intimation or threat of impending evil or danger. Phrase, to give warning (to), to warn. Also Sc. to make warning.
† Scarborough warning: see SCARBOROUGH.
a. 800. Cynewulf, Crist, 922. Ðæt mæʓ wites to wearninga, þam ðe hafað wisne ʓeþoht.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2993. O þis warning he þam tald, And þai þam dred both yong and ald.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8764. To opene my mouþ y ne dar ne may, Bot hit be a byhouely þyng at nede, Þat were warnyng or tokene of dede.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 502. Thai maid him mony tyme varnyng, Quhen that thai his tynsale mycht se.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 2279. Of treason first I gaf him warnyng, Therfor I haue lost my living.
1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 215. The erle of Warwycke … wrote to the Marques Montacute … geuynge hym warnyng, and aduertesyng him in what perill their whole affayres stode in.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. xi. 14. As two broad Beacons … Send forth their flames … And warning giue, that enemies conspyre, With fire and sword the region to inuade.
c. 1600. Timon, I. ii. (1842), 6. Looke to thy selfe; I gyue thee fayre warning.
1656. N. Bernard, Life Abp. Usher, 91. So great a Prophet … might have at some speciall times more then ordinary motions and impulses in doing the Watch-mans part, of giving warning of Judgements approaching.
1681. Prideaux, Lett. (Camden), 91. They talk nothing now but of wageing war with ye King…. However they thought fit first to give his Majesty some warneing.
c. 1718. Prior, Paulo Purg., 160. I give you warning: You’ll die before to-morrow morning.
1759. Hume, Hist. Eng. Hen. VIII., i. 84. He gave his master warning of the danger [later edd. He made warning of the danger to his master].
1814. Scott, Lord of Isles, IV. xxvi. ‘In murderous strife,’ Said Bruce, ‘his warning saved my life.’
1848. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. xvi. 276 [Tresham] insisted vehemently that warning should be given to the Lord Mounteagle, his kinsman.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xviii. IV. 229. The banished oppressor had at least given Englishmen fair warning.
b. A sign or portent of coming evil.
c. 1325. Yesterday, 55, in Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 676. Nis non so fresch on fote to fare … Ne non so bold, Beores to bynde Þat he naþ warmynges [read warnynges] to beo ware.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., II. ii. 80. And these does she apply, for warnings and portents, And euils imminent.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 12 Dec. 1680. They [sc. comets] may be warnings from God, as they commonly are forerunners of his animadversions.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, vi. But I have heard it these many years, and outlived the warning.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VII. 767. This is called the ‘warning’ of the attack, or in medical terminology, the ‘aura.’
3. Advice to beware of a person or thing as being dangerous.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 62. Al Holi Writ is ful of warningge of eie. Dauid seide, ‘Averte oculos meos ne videant vanitatem.’
1842. Dickens, Amer. Notes, xvi. There we all stood, watching this revolving light upon the rock at Holyhead, and praising it for its brightness and its friendly warning.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xi. 83. Urged by the warnings of our … guide, we … began the descent.
1870. A. R. Wallace, Contrib. Theory Nat. Select. (1871), 118. Some … perceived signal was therefore necessary to serve as a warning to birds never to touch these uneatable kinds [of caterpillars].
1888. F. Hume, Mme. Midas, I. i. The result of this blind confidence justified the warnings of her friends.
4. Deterrent counsel; cautionary advice against imprudent or vicious action, or neglect of duty.
c. 1000. Ælfric, On Old T. (Gr.), 7. [The Book of Proverbs is] wisdomes biʓspell and warnung wið disiʓ.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 378. He had many grete warnyngis of hydousnes & perille of þis synne.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. IV. 431. The kyng [sc. Saul] spared, For-bar hym and hus beste bestes … Otherwise than god wolde by warnyng of the prophete.
c. 1400. Brut, 116. Þe gode man warnede ham ofte-tymes þat folie to lete; but his warnyng availede litel for þe loue bituene ham was so miche.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 8. Þou … awȝtyst gretly to desyre, to heryn his warnyng & his techyng.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 538. O what pyte was hys, That the Troyans beleuyd not this warnyng and Amonycion.
1535. Coverdale, Prov. x. 8. A wyse man wil receaue warnynge, but a foole wil sooner be smytten in the face.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, I. i. D iij b. Surely he were a gaye gyuer of warnynge, yf his aduyse were ought worthe.
1642. J. Taylor (Water P.), Life Walker, A 3. But all these faire warnings could not make M. Walker give over writing, lying and Libelling.
1713. Rowe, Jane Shore, IV. 47. Oh! should’st thou wrong her Just Heav’n shall double all thy Woes upon thee, And make ’em know no End—Remember this As the last Warning of a dying Man.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xix. IV. 344. ‘My Lord,’ said the King,… ‘you will live to repent the part which you are taking in this matter.’ The warning was disregarded.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., II. ix. 322. History is never weary of repeating its warnings against narrow judgements.
1907. Verney Mem., II. 54. Abstaining from a single word of reproach for the past or of warning for the future.
b. An experience, sight, etc., that serves as a caution; a deterrent example.
1613. J. Saris, Voy. Japan (Hakl. Soc.), 41. They laye a good while aboard of hir, and charged them to take this for a wardning [sic], and giue ouer there scoffing of them, or the next time they would teach them better manner.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. (1900), 219. Let Christian’s slips before he came hither, and the Battles that he met with in this place, be a warning to those that come after.
1771. Junius Lett., No. lxvii. 331, note. It deserves to be recorded for the curiosity of the fact, and should be given to the public as a warning to every honest member of society.
1857. Maurice, Ep. St. John, xi. 170. Such a man is a spectacle and a warning to us all.
c. To take warning: to alter one’s course of action when warned of its danger. Const. by (another’s ill-fortune, etc.).
1550. Crowley, Epigr., 784. An example thou shalt be, That all stouburne priestes may take warnyng by the.
1607. Shaks., Timon, III. i. 28. He wold embrace no counsell, take no warning by my comming.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. (1900), 198. I think it is well that they hang so near the High-way that others may see and take warning.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 1520. Girl, for I see ye scorn my courtesies, Take warning.
5. Previous notice of an event whether good or bad. † In warning: by way of warning. Also, time allowed for preparation, interval between the notice and the event (e.g., in long, short warning, a day’s warning, etc.).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21879. He sends us þis all in warning, For to be warr of his cuming.
c. 1370. Roberd of Cysille, 464, in Hazl., E. E. P., I. 286. The aungelle gaf hym in warnynge Of the tyme of hys levynge.
1471[?]. Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 117. A pryve seall … was delivered to him on Munday … which as your maystership knoweth well was right shorte warnyng.
1560. F. Allen, in Lodge, Illustr. Brit. Hist. (1791), I. 345. The Quene’s Mate hathe sworne that the daye and tyme shall be kepte secrete to herself,… so as the very tyme … will be so shorte and sodeyne that men are like to have small warninge of the matter.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faustus, 391. Thou art at an houres warning whensoeuer or wheresoeuer the diuell shall fetch thee.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 60. The worst is this,—that at so slender warning, You are like to haue a thin and slender pittance.
1607. Statutes, in Hist. Wakefield Gram. Sch. (1892), 59. Lawfull warninge of the daye of the election.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 44. The truce … was then concluded … till the Calends of May, except either of them should give fourteene daies warning of their purpose to breake the same.
1633. Fletcher & Shirley, Night-Walker, IV. i. But this will be reveng’d in a short warning.
a. 1701. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 104. Where an Angel gave the Blessed Virgin three days warning of her Death.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 479. At a moment’s warning the Sheriff adjourned the poll to Newport Pagnell.
b. In some clocks, the rattling or whirring noise that precedes the striking.
1775. J. Berridge, Wks. (1864), 388. This, like the warning of a clock, prepares for the stroke.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXVII. 107/1. From that time till the hand comes to 60 the clock is on the warning.
1850. Denison, Clock & Watch-m., 119. The noise made by this is called giving warning.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., s.v. Warning-piece, The warning-piece, by starting the fly, causes a rustling noise, which is the precursor of the striking, and is called the warning.
c. U.S. local. (See quot.) ? Obs.
1807. C. W. Janson, Stranger in Amer., 422. On such occasions [sc. burial of the dead] what they call ‘warnings’ is the day before, or early in the morning, given of the funeral.
6. Notice of the termination of a business relation, given by one of the parties to the other; esp. by a landlord to a tenant, a master to a servant, an employer to an employee, or vice versa.
1432. Paston Lett., I. 33. The said Erle desireth that … he may, by warnyng to my Lordes … be and stande freely discharged of the saide occupation … about the Kinges persone.
1562–3. Act 5 Eliz., c. 4 § 4. That no suche Mr Mrs or Dame shall put awaye any suche Servante … without one quarter warning gyven before thende of his sayd terme.
1571–2. Reg. Privy Council Scot., II. 125. It salbe leful to ayther of the saidis partiis to use warningis for removing fra landis and heretabill possessioun.
1577. J. Dee, Diary (Camden), 3. June 26th, Elen Lyne gave me a quarter’s warning.
a. 1646. T. Hope, Minor Pract., xiii. (1734), 363. The Objections against the Lawfulness of the Warning are, That the Parties are not lawfully warned personally, or at their Dwelling-places, or upon the Ground of the Lands,… or, That the Warning is not stamped, &c.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 30 March. Up and away goes Alce, our cook-maid;… and would go away of her own accord, after having given her mistress warning fickly for a quarter of a year together.
1676. Office of Clerk of Assize, 112. If any Master hath put away his Servant before the end of his term, without a quarter warning, he shall forfeit forty shillings.
1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, II. (fin.). You shou’d never take a Lease of a House you can hire for a Quarter’s Warning.
1715. Addison, Drummer, I. i. Coachman. I’ll give Madam warning, that’s flat—I’ve always liv’d in sober families.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 209. I had talk’d to Mrs. Jervis to induce the Girl (to whom, in hopes of frightening her, I had given Warning …) to desire to stay.
1799. R. Bell, Syst. Forms of Deeds Scot., II. 389. There is first a precept of warning given by the landlord; it is in this form…. I … lawfully premonish, warn, and charge C. D. tenant and possessor of the lands of [blank], to flit and remove himself [etc.].
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xxxii. I’ll pay her [the landlady] what I owe her, and give her warning to-morrow morning.
1872. Punch, 6 April, 141/2. Mary Dishley gave her mistress warning: no fault to find with her place, but wanted a change. Ibid. (1884), 22 Nov., 246. Cook, I give you a Month’s Warning from To-day.
1886. J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 70. Warning, notice, given or received, of a workman leaving his employment.
fig. 1828. Scott, Aunt Marg. Mirror, Introd. A little group of trees, that still grace the eastern end,… have just received warning to quit, expressed by a daub of white paint.
† 7. Previous notice of being called upon to perform some duty. Obs.
1459. Rolls of Parlt., V. 369/2. He had … a commaundement fro youre Highnes, to be redy to come … with his said fel[y]ship, upon a day warning. Ibid. (1477), VI. 194/2. To be redy in harnays within an Houre warnyng.
1549. Thomas, Hist. Italie, 74 b. For there [at the Arsenal of Venice] they haue well neere two hundred galleys in suche an ordre, that vpon a verie small warnyng they maie be furnisshed out vnto the sea.
1554–5. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Mary (1914), 170. In a redines to serve vpon further warnynge.
1556. Ld. Wharton, in Lodge, Illustr. Brit. Hist. (1791), I. 220. I called the gentilmen, freholders, and rulers of men, and declared unto them the Quenes Matie’s comaundement for their servyse, and reddynes upon an hower’s warnyng.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot., I. III. 256. For this purpose she summoned him to appear before her on a short warning.
† 8. Intimation, notification of a fact or a present occurrence. To give warning of: to call attention to. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol., 40. Sires, now in the morwe tyde, Out of youre hostelrie I saugh you ryde And warned heer my lord,… Which to ryden with yow is ful fayn … Frend, for thy warnyng god yeue thee chance.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. i. (1495), 27. By warnyng of angels men knowe goddis wyl & so angels is a name of offyce & not of kynde.
1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xvi. 89. If of this consideracioun no mensioun and waarnyng were bi me or bi sum other in writing bifore mad.
c. 1480. Robt. Devyll, 787, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 250. And whan thy synnes be cleane forgeuen the, By an Aungell god wyll sende the warnynge.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 17. Many other things we might giue thee warning of (gentle Reader) if wee had not exceeded the measure of a Preface alreadie.
† b. A by warning: a private hint or prompting to do something. Obs.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 25. When … his familiar coumpaignions gaue hym a by warnynge to auenge suche a naughtie touche … with his tenne comaundementes: gayly saied [etc.].
† c. A notice or signal that a certain hour has come, or that it is time to do something. Obs.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 7. Alle þe breþeren schulle be redy at here warnynge.
c. 1566. J. Alday, trans. Boaystuau’s Theat. World, S 3. A Diall, the which … gave warning with a stroke unto him that did weare it of everie houre.
1573. J. Sandford, Hours Recr. (1576), 67. The swallowe againe giveth them warning to go away.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. iii. 117. The sherris … illuminateth the Face, which (as a Beacon) giues warning to all the rest of this little Kingdom (Man) to Arme.
1633. B. Jonson, Tale Tub, I. vi. He sat up at Play, and watch’d the Cock, Till his first warning chid him off to rest.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 162. These Timbrels … serve not only to chear up the Camels … but also to give warning to those that stay behind.
1821. Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Malcolm’s Heir, liv. And aye, when the midnight warning sounds, He hastens his beads to tell.
† 9. A summons, command for attendance. Obs.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 16022 (Trin.). Mony gedered of þe toun bi certeyn warnynge [otherwise in earlier texts].
1461. Paston Lett., II. 3. If this Lords above wayte aftyr more pepill in this cuntre, be lyklyness it woll not be easy to get with owt a newe comission and warnyng.
c. 1495. Hen. VII., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. I. 21. We praye you herein ye wol make suche delegens as that ye be redy with your said nombre to come unto us uppon any our sodein warnyng.
1496. Cov. Leet Bk., 573. The Craft shall mete on seynt Anne day … and what persones þat be absent þat day vppon warnyng shall pay xij d.
1509. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 271/2. He … durst nocht cum to the said burgh to hald the said court without warnyng, support and supple of his frendis.
1600. Child-Marriages, 173. That the said Pattrick shalbe ready to appeare within xij howres before the said maior, vppon warninge geuen at any of the houses of the said Roberte Bennett & Randle Ince.
1623. Cockeram, II. A Warning to appeare to a court. Citation.
1784. Acts & Laws Connecticut, 179. A Copy of this Paragraph of this Act,… published on the Sign-Post in said Town … at least three Days before said second Monday of March next, shall be a legal Warning of the Freemen of said City to attend said first meeting.
1792. N. Chipman, Rep. (1871), 10. It does not appear that the warning for the proprietor’s meeting was published according to law.
† 10. The action of advertising (lost property).
c. 1610. in Heriot’s Mem., App. VII. (1822), 218. To the goldsmith’s officer for warning of her Majestie’s diamond, which was lost at Salisburie, 6s. 8d.
† 11. Law. = GARNISHMENT. Obs.
1579. Expos. Terms Law, 98 b. Warninge is when an actyon of detinue of charters is brought against one, & the defendant saieth, yt the charters were deliuered to him by the plaintife, and by an other vpon certein conditions and praiethe yt the other may be warned to pleade with the plaintife whether the conditions be performed or noe, and therevppon a write of Scire facias shall goe forthe against him.
12. attrib. and Comb., as warning-giver; † warning-arrow (cf. warning-gun); warning-bell, (a) a bell for giving alarm of fire or invasion; (b) a bell announcing the imminent departure of a vessel; warning-gun, a gun sounded as an alarm or announcement; warning-lever Horology, the lever that sets in motion the warning-wheel; warning-pipe, an overflow pipe serving to show when a cistern is too full; warning-wheel Horology, the wheel that produces the ‘warning’ (see 5 b). Also WARNING-PIECE.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, II. xii. 30. The sight of vice in others, is like a *warning-Arrow, shot, for vs to take heed.
1511. Pilton Churchw. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.), 61 Item for the *warnyng bell and iiij polysse, iis. viiid.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., IV. ii. 39. Harke, harke, the Dolphins drumme, a warning bell, Sings heauy Musicke to thy timorous soule.
a. 1592. Lodge & Greene, Looking Gl. (1598), D 4. Foresee in time, the warning bell doth towle.
1606. Day, Ile of Guls, I. i. B 1. I heare the warning bell, some strangers are ariued.
1853. Kingsley, Hypatia, xxi. Having disposed his sentinels, [he] took his station on the top of his tower, close by the warning-bell.
1864. G. A. Lawrence, Maurice Dering, II. 233. The ‘Tigris’ was on the point of getting under way, and the first warning-bell had rung.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. 166. The best watchmen, and also the best *warning geuers in the nyght tyme.
1830. G. P. R. James, Darnley, xxxviii. III. 251. The *warning gun was fired from the castle of Guisnes, giving notice that the King of England was ready to set out.
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 219. The rack pulls over the hour *warning lever.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 1808. To put a half-inch *warning-pipe from the cistern to a convenient place near the pump.
1696. W. Derham, Artif. Clock-m., i. 6. The next is the Third, or Fourth-Wheel, (according as it is distant from the First-Wheel) called also the *Warning-Wheel.
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 249. The last wheel of the striking train, called the warning wheel.
