_Alarm_ (Vol. ii., pp. 151. 183.).--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
insertion of a vowel before the final _m_. The Irish, in particular,
adopt this mode of pronouncing; even in public speaking they say
_callum_, _firrum_, _farrum_, for _calm_, _firm_, _farm_. The old word
_chrisom_ for _chrism_, is an analogous change: the Italians have in
like manner lengthened _chrisma_ into _cresima_; the French have
softened it into _chrÍme_.