monition

M3O1N1I1T1I1O1N1
UK/məˈnɪʃn̩/

noun

A caution or warning.

Similar
cautionexhortationwarningadmonitionadmonishmentword of adviceprocess of monition
First used 14th c.Scrabble 10

Meanings

nounmonition (plural monitions)

plural monitions

  1. A caution or warning.First known use 14th c.

    He cherished the usual wise monitions, such as that one was not to make a fool of one's self and that one should not carry on one's technical experiments in public.

    1889–1890, Henry James, The Tragic Muse […], volume (please specify the page), Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company […], published 7 June 1890, →OCLC
    2 more examples

    For if the ſoul of man vvere emancipated by virtue, it vvould not need any regulation or monition, beſides that of its invvard Tribunal; vvhich becauſe ſin does uſurp upon, has ſome relief from thoſe extern adjuments.

    1663, Edward Waterhous[e], chapter XIV, in Fortescutus Illustratus; or A Commentary on that Nervous Treatise De Laudibus Legum Angliæ, Written by Sir John Fortescue Knight, […], London: […] Tho[mas] Roycroft for Thomas Dicas […], →OCLC, page 214

    I heard something of it, however, and, young as I was, could not help wondering how men who carried the worst passions of life into their retreat, could imagine that retreat was a refuge from the erosions of their evil tempers, the monitions of conscience, and the accusations of God.

    1820, [Charles Robert Maturin], Melmoth the Wanderer: A Tale. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Company, and Hurst, Robinson, and Co., […], →OCLC, page 191

    Synonyms: caution, exhortation, warning

  2. A legal notification of something.First known use 15th c.
  3. A sign of impending danger; an omen.First known use 15th c.

    I recognise the first ambiguous monitions of the destiny which afterwards so fully overshadowed me.

    1839, Edgar Allan Poe, William Wilson

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA caution or warning.

More synonyms by meaning

nouna firm rebuke

nouncautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness)

Similar
admonitionwarningword of advice
Broader

nouna summons issued after the filing of a libel or claim directing all parties concerned to show cause why the judgment asked for should not be granted

Similar
process of monition

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinmonitiō“warning, admonition”
  2. Middle Frenchmonicion
  3. Anglo-Normanmonicion
  4. Englishmonition

From Anglo-Norman monicion, Middle French monicion, and their source, Latin monitiō (“warning, admonition”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian предупреждение, поличба
  • предупреждение (predupreždenie)caution or warning
  • поличба (poličba)omen
Finnish varoitus
  • varoituscaution or warning
German Mahnung
  • Mahnungcaution or warning
Russian предупреждение, уведомление
  • предупреждение (predupreždenije)caution or warning
  • уведомление (uvedomlenije)legal notification
Cite this entry
APA

monition. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monition

MLA

“monition.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monition. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “monition,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monition.

Source: monition on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.