premonish

English

Etymology

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “mid-15c., premunicion, premunition, "preliminary warning, previous notification or admonishment," from Anglo-French premunition (late 14c.), Old French premonicion, from Medieval Latin praemonitionem (nominative praemonitio) "a forewarning," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin praemonere "forewarn,"”

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Verb

premonish (third-person singular simple present premonishes, present participle premonishing, simple past and past participle premonished)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To warn of something in advance.
   • 1901, Winona Branch Sawyer, Frances Wood Shimer, 1826-1901, page 17:

     While other schools of a similar nature were petitioning for endowments, employing agents to solicit funds, and, failing to receive, were obliged to close their doors, she, […] premonished on every side with assurances of failure, not only established a good school, but maintained it, and made it a remunerative enterprise and a recognized force in educational circles.

   • 1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., page 56:

     In Australia and Samoa the kangaroo, the crow and the owl premonish their fellow clansmen of events to come.

Derived terms

• premonishment
• unpremonished

Related terms

• premonition

Anagrams

• morphines, permonish