Præmuniʹre

A barbarous word from the Latin prœmoneʹri (to be forewarned). The words of the writ begin “Prœmunire facias A.B.”—i.e. “Cause A. B. to be forewarned,” to appear before us to answer the contempt wherewith he stands charged. If A. B. refuses to do so, he loses all civil rights, and before the reign of Elizabeth might have been slain by anyone with impunity.