alarum: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowLiterary, Archaic, Poetic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “alarum” mean?
An archaic or literary term for an alarm, especially a sudden call to arms or a warning of danger.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An archaic or literary term for an alarm, especially a sudden call to arms or a warning of danger.
A state of sudden fear or anxious excitement; a noisy disturbance or commotion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning or usage, as the word is equally archaic in both varieties. It may be marginally more recognized in British English due to stronger tradition of studying Shakespeare.
Connotations
Evokes medievalism, Shakespeare, or old-fashioned rhetoric. Sounds dramatic and slightly antiquated.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage outside of fixed phrases like 'alarums and excursions' or deliberate archaic style.
Grammar
How to Use “alarum” in a Sentence
sound + an + alarumalarum + of + [danger/threat]alarum + bell/trumpet/cryVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alarum” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sentry alarumed the sleeping garrison.
- Trumpets alarumed the approaching peril.
American English
- The scout alarumed the camp of the enemy's advance.
- Bells alarumed throughout the medieval town.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare; no standard examples. The word is not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Extremely rare; no standard examples. The word is not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- The alarum cry echoed in the courtyard.
- He was roused by an alarum bell.
American English
- They heard the alarum signal from the watchtower.
- The play's opening scene is one of alarum and disorder.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, historical texts, or Shakespeare studies.
Everyday
Not used in modern everyday conversation.
Technical
Not used in modern technical contexts; historical military texts only.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alarum”
- Using it in modern contexts (e.g., 'I set my phone alarum').
- Misspelling as 'allarum' or 'alarmum'.
- Pronouncing it with a strong 'l' sound (/ælərəm/) instead of the schwa (/ə/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, essentially. It's a Middle English variant that survived in literary and fixed expressions while 'alarm' became the standard modern form.
Only for a specific stylistic effect, such as in historical fiction, poetry, or to create an archaic tone. In standard contemporary writing, use 'alarm'.
It's an idiom originating from Elizabethan theatre, referring to the sounds and activity of battle staged off-screen. Now it means any hectic or tumultuous activity, often involving fuss and noise.
It is pronounced like 'uh-LARR-um' in British English (/əˈlær.əm/) and 'uh-LAIR-um' in American English (/əˈlɛr.əm/), with the stress on the second syllable.
An archaic or literary term for an alarm, especially a sudden call to arms or a warning of danger.
Alarum is usually literary, archaic, poetic, historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “alarums and excursions (a phrase meaning noisy, frantic, or confused activity, especially in a theatrical or military context)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ALARUM' sounds like 'a-larm' – an old-fashioned way to say 'alarm' used in plays.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A SUDDEN NOISE / URGENCY IS A LOUD SIGNAL
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'alarum' be MOST appropriate today?