alarum
1
9.9
- noun
- /əˈlɑːrəm/
- Archaic
:
alarma
- Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, our bruised arms hung up for monuments, our stern alarums changed to merry meetings,
Examples
-
Ring the alarum bell.
-
With that, we fled like housebreakers from an alarum.
Fiction book (1990) -
All through the ten minutes of growling and alarums that followed, I lay there without moving.
Fiction book (1999) -
Remaineth not, but to inter our brethren... and with loud alarums welcome them to Rome.
-
The loud alarum startled the villagers and warned them of the approaching danger.
-
They raised a great alarum that echoed through the valley, alerting everyone in the area.
-
At dawn, the alarum signaled the start of the evacuation drill, prompting everyone to gather quickly.
Synonyms
842
1.0
A device that makes a loud sound to warn or wake people
297
2.8
A warning that something dangerous or important may happen
259
2.9
A machine that makes a loud wailing sound to warn people
5
3.2
A loud sound or flashing light that tells people there is danger
1
2.7
A bell that rings to warn people of danger
How Loud
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word alarum comes from an old battle cry, the Italian phrase all'arme meaning 'to the arms', which called soldiers to their weapons. That's why an alarum, like the common word alarm, means a warning sound that tells people there is danger.