ad·mon·ish
(ăd-mŏńĭsh)
[Middle English amonishen, admonishen, alteration of amonesten, from Old French amonester, admonester, from Vulgar Latin* admonestāre, from Latin admonēre, ad-, ad-, + monēre, to warn.]
transitive verb: -ished, -ish·ing, -ish·es.
- To reprove gently but earnestly.
- To counsel (another) against something to be avoided; caution.
- To remind of something forgotten or disregarded, as an obligation or a responsibility.
derivatives
- ad·mońish·er
- noun
- ad·mońish·ing·ly
- adverb
- ad·mońish·ment
- noun
synonyms:
admonish, reprove, rebuke, reprimand, reproach These verbs mean to correct or caution critically. Admonish implies the giving of advice or a warning in order to rectify or avoid something: “A gallows erected on an eminence admonished the offenders of the fate that awaited them” (William Hickling Prescott) Reprove usually suggests gentle criticism and constructive intent: With a quick look, the teacher reproved the child for whispering in class. Rebuke and reprimand both refer to sharp, often angry criticism: “Some of the most heated criticism . . . has come from the Justice Department, which rarely rebukes other agencies in public” (Howard Kurtz) “A committee atasked its president to reprimand a scientist who tested gene-altered bacteria on trees” (New York Times) Reproach usually refers to regretful or unhappy criticism arising from a sense of disappointment: “Every other author may aspire to praise; the lexicographer can only hope to escape reproach” (Samuel Johnson)
