Warn, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Warned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Warning.] [OE.
warnen, warnien, AS. warnian, wearnian, to take
heed, to warn; akin to AS. wearn denial, refusal, OS.
warning, wernian, to refuse, OHG. warnen, G.
warnen to warn, OFries. warna, werna, Icel.
varna to refuse; and probably to E. wary. ????.]
1. To make ware or aware; to give previous
information to; to give notice to; to notify; to admonish; hence, to notify
or summon by authority; as, to warn a town meeting; to warn a
tenant to quit a house. "Warned of the ensuing fight."
Dryden.
Cornelius the centurion . . . was warned from God by
an holy angel to send for thee.
Acts x. 22.
Who is it that hath warned us to the
walls?
Shak.
2. To give notice to, of approaching or probable
danger or evil; to caution against anything that may prove injurious.
"Juturna warns the Daunian chief of Lausus' danger, urging swift
relief." Dryden.
3. To ward off. [Obs.] Spenser.
Warn (wôrn), v. t. [OE. wernen,
AS. weornan, wyrnan. Cf. Warn to admonish.] To
refuse. [Written also wern, worn.] [Obs.]
Chaucer.