admonition

[ad-muh-nish-uh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR admonition ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

counsel, advice, or caution.

a gentle reproof.

a warning or reproof given by an ecclesiastical authority.

Origin of admonition

1350–1400; < Latin admonitiōn- (stem of admonitiō); see ad-, monition; replacing late Middle English amonicioun < Anglo-French < Latin; see admonish

Related formspre·ad·mo·ni·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for admonition

Contemporary Examples of admonition

His supporters hosted a men-only fundraiser with this admonition on the invitation: “Tell the misses not to wait up.”
The Republican War on Women Continues, Just More Quietly
Eleanor Clift
October 13, 2014
It will be interesting to see how that admonition plays with the die-hards.
It’s Not the President’s Speech That Makes News but the Reactions to It
Michelle Cottle
January 29, 2014
That Soundos survived, and with a bullet in her head, seems to many an act of God, and an admonition.
The Little Syrian Girl With a Bullet in Her Head
Gregory Beals
November 29, 2013
At first, Wilson took seriously his admonition to Americans to “be impartial in thought, as well as action.”
A Noble Failure: Woodrow Wilson’s Presidency Considered
Michael Kazin
September 8, 2013
Kelly's admonition of the film through an aide‚ years after the fact, doesn't go down well.
Ray Kelly's Dalliance With The Islamophobic Fringes
Ali Gharib
July 19, 2013

Historical Examples of admonition

The Trainer's admonition seemed like a cry to a cyclone, as void of usefulness.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
I felt it was so thoughtful of him to give me this admonition.
A Woman Tenderfoot
Grace Gallatin Seton-Thompson
The physician said a little in the way of reproof and admonition, and left me.
Ned Myers
James Fenimore Cooper
With that she recalled her mother's admonition, and went upstairs to Walter's door.
Alice Adams
Booth Tarkington
I complied with the admonition, and was able to say that I liked Doctorberger.
The First Violin
Jessie Fothergill

Word Origin and History for admonition

late 14c., amonicioun "reminding, instruction," from Old French amonicion "admonition, exhortation," from Latin admonitionem (nominative admonitio), noun of action from past participle stem of admonere (see admonish). Meaning "warning" is early 15c. The -d- was restored in English 17c.