alarming

The word "alarming" derives from the Old Italian "all'arme," meaning "to arms!"—a call to alert soldiers of danger. The root "alarm" entered English via French in the late 14th century, originally referring to a sudden fear or call to action. The suffix "-ing" transforms it into an adjective, describing something that evokes this sense of urgency or threat. The evolution reflects a shift from literal battle cries to broader contexts of disturbance or concern.