forewarned is forearmed en · X
Etymology
Possibly, although not certainly, from the Latin saying praemonitus praemunitus.
Meanings
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Advance awareness of a situation, especially a risky one, prepares one to deal with it.
Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed.
1885, G. A. Henty, chapter 4, in Saint George for England:"Well, Miss Maxwell, I think it only fair to tell you that you may have trouble with those boys when they do come. Forewarned is forearmed, you know."
c. 1903, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Why Mr. Cropper Changed His Mind:[W]hatever a young gentleman of that age says to you, he says to many other ladies; but your experience is not equal to your sense; so profit by mine . . . forewarned is forearmed.
1863, Charles Reade, chapter 4, in Hard Cash:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| forewarned, forearmed | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
word to the wise · forethought · foresight · a danger foreseen is half avoided
Translations (16)
de Gefahr erkannt, Gefahr gebannt (proverb) · it uomo avvisato, mezzo salvato (proverb) · es hombre prevenido vale por dos (proverb) · fr un homme averti en vaut deux (proverb) · pl przezorny zawsze ubezpieczony (proverb) · nl een gewaarschuwd mens telt voor twee (proverb) · ca home previngut val per dos (proverb) · fi ei vara venettä kaada (proverb) · pt um homem prevenido vale por dois (proverb) · ast un preveníu val más qu'un ciento (proverb) · ro un om prevenit face cât doi (proverb) · ru кто предостережён, тот вооружён (proverb) · de gewarnt ist gewappnet (proverb) · srn te yu mati barba e bron, yu musu nati di fu yu (proverb) · cmn 凡事預則立 /凡事预则立 (proverb) · la praemonitus praemunitus (proverb)