Warning

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈwɔɹnɪŋ/

Definitions

1. A communication meant to inform about potential risks or dangers
2. A message or signal indicating the presence of a possible threat or hazard
3. An announcement or sign given to alert someone about an upcoming risk or caution

Etymology: "Warning" is simply the present participle of "warn", so its history is really the history of that verb. The verb goes back to Old English "warnian", meaning "to take heed" or "to warn", and it sits in a Germanic family that also includes German "warnen", Swedish "varna" and Icelandic "varna". Its deeper ancestor is a Proto-Germanic form meaning "to warn; take heed", which is built on an older root for being aware or giving heed. The noun use of "warning" grew out of that verbal sense. Its core idea has stayed the same for over a thousand years: an act of making someone aware of a danger or obligation so they can take heed. The modern sense of a danger alert message is a direct extension of this meaning, with the message itself standing in for the act of warning.

Synonyms: alert, advisory, caution, notification, forewarning

Antonyms: certainty, assurance, safety, calm, reassurance