Warn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Warned; p. pr. & vb. n. Warning.]
Etymology: [OE. warnen, warnien, AS. warnian, wearnian, to take heed, to warn; akin to AS. wearn denial, refusal, OS. warning, wernian, to refuse, OHG. warnen, G. warnen to warn, OFries. warna, werna, Icel. varna to refuse; and probably to E. wary.
1. To make ware or aware; to give previous information to; to give notice to; to notify; to admonish; hence, to notify or summon by authority; as, to warn a town meeting; to warn a tenant to quit a house. "Warned of the ensuing fight." Dryden. Cornelius the centurion . . . was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee. Acts x. 22. Who is it that hath warned us to the walls Shak.
2. To give notice to, of approaching or probable danger or evil; to caution against anything that may prove injurious. "Juturna warns the Daunian chief of Lausus' danger, urging swift relief." Dryden.
3. To ward off. [Obs.] Spenser.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Warn (wasrn), v. t.
To refuse. [Written also wern, worn.] [Obs.] Chaucer.