To alarm
Example: The warning alarms users about system failure
Definition
"To alarm" means to cause someone to feel sudden fear or anxiety, often by warning them of danger or an urgent situation. It involves alerting or notifying someone to be cautious or prepared for something potentially harmful or unexpected.
Etymology
The verb "to alarm" originates from the Italian phrase 'all'arme,' meaning 'to arms!' or 'to weapons!' It was used as a call to prepare for battle. Over time, it evolved to mean causing someone to be alert or fearful. Did you know it once literally meant summoning soldiers to fight?
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"To alarm" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - (B1) - set 5", containing 113 commonly used words.
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