Admonition, n.
Etymology: [OE. amonicioun, OF. amonition, F. admonition, fr. L. admonitio, fr. admonere. See Admonish.]
Gentle or friendly reproof; counseling against a fault or error; expression of authoritative advice; friendly caution or warning.
Syn. -- Admonition, Reprehension, Reproof. Admonition is prospective, and relates to moral delinquencies; its object is to prevent further transgression. Reprehension and reproof are retrospective, the former being milder than the latter. A person of any age or station may be liable to reprehension in case of wrong conduct; but reproof is the act of a superior. It is authoritative fault-finding or censure addressed to children or to inferiors.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for admonition; he lists it under reproof.
Where he writes about it:
The same is true of admonition and animadversion. — from reproof
Rebuke may be given at the outset, or in the midst of an action; animadversion, reflection, reprehension, reproof, always follow the act; admonition is anticipatory, and meant to be preventive. — from reproof