English
forewarn
Forewarn comes from Middle English *forewarnen.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*forewarnenreconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1576forewarn
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*forewarnenreconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1576forewarn
Earliest quotation: 1576, George Whetstone, The Ortchard of Repentance: […]: “And ſure, although it was invented to eaſe his…”
Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘before, formerly’
Proto-Germanic *fura- ‘before, in front of, for’
Proto-West Germanic *forē- ‘before, in front of, fore-, pre-’
English fore-
Proto-Indo-European *wer- ‘to be aware’
Proto-Germanic *warnōną ‘to warn’
Old English warnian ‘to take heed’
Middle English warnen
English warn
The story
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.
Every English word from Middle English *forewarnen
Today it means
verb To warn in advance.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English *forewarnen / forewarn