An alarm is a loud sound, signal, or device that warns people of danger or reminds them of something. It can also mean a sudden feeling of fear or worry.
From Italian *all’arme!* meaning “to arms!”—a battle cry calling soldiers to get their weapons. It entered French as *alarme* and then English, keeping the idea of a sudden call to action.
Every time an alarm rings, it’s like a tiny echo of a battlefield shout: “To arms!” That’s why alarms don’t just inform you; they demand an immediate reaction—wake up, get out, pay attention.
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