admonish
[ ad-mon-ish ]
/ ædˈmɒn ɪʃ /
verb (used with object)
to caution, advise, or counsel against something.
to reprove or scold, especially in a mild and good-willed manner: The teacher admonished him about excessive noise.
to urge to a duty; remind: to admonish them about their obligations.
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Origin of admonish
1275–1325; late Middle English admonish, amonesche, admonesse, amoness, Middle English a(d)monest (with -t later taken as past participle suffix) < Anglo-French, Old French amonester < Vulgar Latin *admonestāre, apparently derivative of Latin admonēre to remind, give advice to (source of -est- uncertain), equivalent to ad- ad- + monēre to remind, warn
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for admonish
British Dictionary definitions for admonish
admonish
/ (ədˈmɒnɪʃ) /
verb (tr)
to reprove firmly but not harshly
to advise to do or against doing something; warn; caution
Derived Formsadmonisher or admonitor, nounadmonition (ˌædməˈnɪʃən), nounadmonitory, adjective
Word Origin for admonish
C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin admonestāre (unattested), from Latin admonēre to put one in mind of, from monēre to advise
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for admonish
admonish
mid-14c., amonesten "remind, urge, exhort, warn, give warning," from Old French amonester (12c.) "urge, encourage, warn," from Vulgar Latin *admonestare, from Latin admonere "bring to mind, remind, suggest;" also "warn, advise, urge," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + monere "advise, warn" (see monitor (n.)).
The -d- was restored on Latin model. The ending was influenced by words in -ish (e.g. astonish, abolish). Related: Admonished; admonishing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper