| Definitions | | alarm |
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noun
- A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
- Arming to answer in a night alarm. --Shak.
- Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
- Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. --Joel ii. 1.
- Thy palace fill with insults and alarms. --Pope.
- Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise.
- Alarm and resentment spread throughout the camp. --Macaulay.
- A mechanical contrivance for awaking persons from sleep, or rousing their attention; an alarum.
verb
- To call to arms for defense; to give notice to (any one) of approaching danger; to rouse to vigilance and action; to put on the alert.
- To keep in excitement; to disturb.
- To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear.
Etymology: French alarme > Italian all'arme! (to arms!, to the weapons!) > Latin arma, armorum.
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Full Definition of alarm
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