Alarm

The origin of this word appears to be the Italian cry, *all'arme; gridare all'arme* is to give the alarm. Hence the French *alarme*, and from the French is borrowed the English word. *Alarum* for *alarm*, is merely a corruption produced by mispronunciation. The letters *l* and *r* before *m* are difficult to pronounce; and they are in general, according to the refined standard of our pronunciation, so far softened as only to lengthen the preceding vowel. In provincial pronunciation, however, the force of the former letter is often preserved, and the pronunciation is facilitated by the insertio…