Alarm

n. [Fr. alarme, Pr. & Sp. alarma, It. allarme, from It. all' arme, to arms! The Ger. lärm, lärmen, is derived from the same source.]

1. A summons to arms. “Arming to answer in a night alarm.” Shak.
2. Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger. “Sound an alarm in my holy mountain.” Joel ii. 1.
3. Sudden surprise with fear or terror, excited by apprehension of danger. “Alarm and resentment spread throughout the camp.” Macaulay.
4. A mechanical contrivance for awaking persons from sleep, or rousing their attention.

Syn.—Fright; affright; terror; consternation; dismay; agitation; disquiet; disquietude.—ALARM, FRIGHT, TERROR, CONSTERNATION. These words express different degrees of fear at the approach of danger. Fright is the least vivid emotion, and chiefly affects the nerves and senses. Alarm is the hurried agitation of feeling which springs from a sense of immediate and extreme exposure. Terror is agitating and excessive fear, which usually benumbs the faculties. Consternation is overwhelming terror, which usually overpowers the mind. Alarm agitates the feelings; terror disorders the understanding; fright seizes on the senses; consternation takes possession of the whole soul, and subdues its faculties.