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.
verb (tr)
- to reprove firmly but not harshly
- to advise to do or against doing something; warn; caution
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.