forewarn

English

Etymology

Early 14th century, from Middle English *forewarnen (suggested by Middle English forewarned, forewarning, forewarner, etc.), from Old English forewarnian (“to take warning beforehand; forewarn”), from Proto-Germanic *furawarnōną (“to forewarn”), equivalent to fore- +‎ warn. Cognate with German vorwarnen (“to warn, forewarn”), German vorwarnen (“to forewarn”), Swedish förvarna (“to forewarn”).

Verb

forewarn (third-person singular simple present forewarns, present participle forewarning, simple past and past participle forewarned)

1. To warn in advance.
   • 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad, →OL:

     “I came down like a wolf on the fold, didn’t I ?  Why didn’t I telephone ?  Strategy, my dear boy, strategy. This is a surprise attack, and I’d no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. […]”

Usage notes

Some discourage this use, finding the term redundant, as a warning is necessarily in advance. However, considering the word's continued presence in the English language ever since the time of the Anglo-Saxons (when it was first coined), the legitimacy of such complaints is somewhat questionable.

Additionally, many others argue that forewarn is simple emphasis (rather than redundancy), has connotations of “well in advance” (“Watch out!” and “Watch your head!” are warnings, but not forewarnings), and has connotations of “correct prediction”, as in foretell. Both forewarn and warn are well-established words, with forewarn being attested since 1330.

Derived terms

• forewarned is forearmed

Related terms

• fore-
• foretell

Translations

to warn in advance

• Dutch: waarschuwen (nl), op de hoogte stellen
• French: précautionner (fr)
• German: vorwarnen (de)
• Italian: premonire (it)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Latin: praemoneō, praeclamo
• Maori: whakatūpato
• Swedish: förvarna (sv)

References

• “Forewarning signs”, The Grammarphobia Blog, May 8, 2007