In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
FOREWARN
forewarn, previse
(verb) warn in advance or beforehand; give an early warning; “I forewarned him of the trouble that would arise if he showed up at his ex-wife’s house”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
forewarn (third-person singular simple present forewarns, present participle forewarning, simple past and past participle forewarned)
To warn in advance.
Usage notes
Some discourage this use, finding the term redundant, as a warning is necessarily in advance. However, considering the word's continued presence in the English language ever since the time of the Anglo-Saxons (when it was first coined), the legitimacy of such complaints is somewhat questionable.
Additionally, many others argue that forewarn is simple emphasis (rather than redundancy), has connotations of “well in advance” (“Watch out!” and “Watch your head!” are warnings, but not forewarnings), and has connotations of “correct prediction”, as in foretell. Both forewarn and warn are well-established words, with forewarn being attested since 1330.
Source: Wiktionary
Fore*warn", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forewarned; p. pr. & vb. n. Forewarning.]
Definition: To warn beforehand; to give previous warning, admonition, information, or notice to; to caution in advance. We were forewarned of your coming. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
12 May 2025
UNSEASONED
(adjective) not tried or tested by experience; “unseasoned artillery volunteers”; “still untested in battle”; “an illustrator untried in mural painting”; “a young hand at plowing”
Coffee Trivia
