unawareadv.adj.
/ˌʌnəˈwɛː/, U.S. /ˌənəˈwɛ(ə)r/ A. adv.
1. = unawares adv. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > [adverb] > in ignorance, unknowingly
unknowingly1340
unknowinga1382
unwarec1386
unwittinglya1425
unbewares1483
unknownly1495
unawares1535
unaware1593
at unawares1596
unsuspectingly1798
unsuspectedly1826
uncognizantly1843
the mind > will > intention > unintentional or unplanned character > [adverb] > unintentionally or involuntarily
unthankc960
un-i-waldesOE
unwaldesc1210
in unwaresa1300
unwilfully1382
unwaresa1400
unbewares1483
unawares1535
unbethought1558
involuntarily1562
unaware1593
at unawares1596
unwillinglya1616
implicitly1625
unpurposedlya1639
hormetically1678
inadvertently1678
indeliberately1681
undesignedly1687
inadvertingly1715
unintentionally1769
unintendedly1782
unpurposely1830
will-lessly1865
1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Fij As one that vnaware, Hath dropt a precious iewell in the flood. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 156 Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, Belike through impotence, or unaware . View more context for this quotation
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite ii, in Fables 26 To his Keeper this [beverage] he brought, Who swallow'd unaware the sleepy Draught.
a1800 W. Cowper tr. Homer Odyssey (ed. 2) xix. 634 She pours her echoing voice,..Deploring Itylus, whom she destroy'd (Her son by royal Zethus) unaware.
1862 E. B. Browning False Step ii Thou only hast stepped unaware,—Malice, not one can impute.
2. = unawares adv. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > suddenness > [adverb]
feringc1000
ferlyc1000
suddenlyc1290
feringlya1300
in a braida1400
sudden?1404
of (a) suddentyc1440
at a braid1549–62
on or upon a (or the) sudden1558
at a (orthe) sudden1562
in a sudden1562
abruptly1565
on or upon (a) suddenty?1567
of a sudden1570
upon a very great sudden1572
in or on a great, in sic a suddenty1587
plump1594
unaware1667
surprisedly1680
a-start1721
abruptedly1784
with a bump1872
just so1971
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > [adverb] > without warning
on, in, or at unwarec1070
unwarec1100
unwaresa1122
uniwaresa1200
unwarelyc1200
on uniware1297
unwarneda1325
unadvised1390
unbewares1483
unbeware1489
unwarnishedly1513
unawarnistly1533
unadvisedlyc1535
unawares1535
at unwaresa1547
unwarnedly1563
at unawares1564
unwarily1569
at unaware1598
unaware1667
of all things1778
out of a clear (blue) sky1875
out of the blue1879
unawaredly1895
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 547 Some high-climbing Hill, Which to his eye discovers unaware The goodly prospect. View more context for this quotation
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite i, in Fables 10 A Glance of some new Goddess gave the Wound, Whom, like Acteon, unaware I found.
1818 J. Keats Endymion iv. 201 Long have I sought for rest, and, unaware, Behold I find it.
1885 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche ii. xxviii. 25 A zephyr..gathering round her unaware Seized her deep-bosomed vesture fast in hold.
3. at unaware: cf. unawares adv. 4.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > [adverb] > without warning
on, in, or at unwarec1070
unwarec1100
unwaresa1122
uniwaresa1200
unwarelyc1200
on uniware1297
unwarneda1325
unadvised1390
unbewares1483
unbeware1489
unwarnishedly1513
unawarnistly1533
unadvisedlyc1535
unawares1535
at unwaresa1547
unwarnedly1563
at unawares1564
unwarily1569
at unaware1598
unaware1667
of all things1778
out of a clear (blue) sky1875
out of the blue1879
unawaredly1895
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Heautontimoroumenos iv. i, in Terence in Eng. 233 Thou..doest all things at vnaware, and vnadvisedly.
1644 T. Case Serm., Quarrel of the Covenant 6 Floods of wrath and vengeance might break in upon them at unaware.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite i, in Fables 19 A Serpent shoots his Sting at unaware.
1855 R. Browning Epist. 296 So we met In this old sleepy town at unaware, The man and I.
1866 C. Rossetti Prince's Progress 20 At unaware They met eye to eye.
B. adj.
1. Not aware; not cognizant; ignorant. Const. of, or with clause.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > [adjective]
unlearedeOE
untowenc1000
unwittyc1000
skillessc1175
uncouthc1220
lewda1225
lorelessa1300
simplea1325
layc1330
uncunning1340
untaughtc1340
unknowingc1350
rudea1382
roida1400
unquainta1400
ignorant?c1400
unlearnedc1400
misknowing?a1425
simple-hearted?c1425
unknownc1475
unkenningc1480
unweeting1483
nescienta1500
craftlessc1530
misliterate1532
sillya1547
ingram1553
gross1561
inscient1578
borowe1579
plain-headeda1586
empirical1588
rudeful1589
lack-learning1590
learnless?1593
wotless?1594
ingrant1597
untutored1597
small-knowing1598
uninstructed1598
unlearnt1609
unread1609
unware?1611
nescious1623
inscious1633
inscientifical1660
uninformed1702
unaware1704
unable1721
unsuspecting1776
inerudite1801
ill-informed1824
incognoscent1827
unminded1831
unknowledgeable1837
knowledgelessc1843
parviscient1862
clueless1943
1704 J. Swift Tale of Tub i. 43 I am not unaware, how the Productions of the Grub-Street Brotherhood, have..fallen under many Prejudices.
1809–10 S. T. Coleridge Friend (1865) 121 Of this important fact Rousseau was by no means unaware.
1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood I. iii. 56 He spoke in the most matter-of-fact tone, unaware of anything poetic in what he said.
2. Reckless; lacking caution; unwary.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [adjective]
unwarec897
uncircumspect?1504
incircumspect1531
unwares1548
wareless1562
unwary1579
unwarning1609
incautelous1610
uncharya1616
uncautelous1628
uncanny1638
unguarded1640
uncautious1644
guardless1654
uncautioned1671
incautiousa1703
cautionless1792
unaware1817
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna vi. xv. 135 I lost all sense or care, And like the rest I grew desperate and unaware.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > [adjective] > not forewarned
diswarec1430
unadvertised1450
unwarnishedc1475
unforewarned1651
unawared1652
unprecautioned1694
1652 E. Sparke Scintillula Altaris (1663) 114 A barbarous surprise of unawared sufferers, affording them neither opportunity of defence or preparation.
unaˈwaredly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > [adverb] > without warning
on, in, or at unwarec1070
unwarec1100
unwaresa1122
uniwaresa1200
unwarelyc1200
on uniware1297
unwarneda1325
unadvised1390
unbewares1483
unbeware1489
unwarnishedly1513
unawarnistly1533
unadvisedlyc1535
unawares1535
at unwaresa1547
unwarnedly1563
at unawares1564
unwarily1569
at unaware1598
unaware1667
of all things1778
out of a clear (blue) sky1875
out of the blue1879
unawaredly1895
1895 W. Sharp in Life (1910) xv. 244 It is unawaredly that she whispers to me.
unaˈwareness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > [noun]
unwisdomc825
nutelnessa1200
ignorance?c1225
uncunningc1290
uncunnessa1300
unwittingnessa1300
unknowledging1357
lewdness1362
unsciencec1374
mislearninga1382
simplenessa1382
unknowinga1382
ignorancec1384
unwittingc1384
simplessec1391
rudenessc1400
unweeting14..
lewdhead1401
misknowing?a1425
simplicityc1450
unknowledge1470
discognisancec1475
unknowingness1486
non-knowledge1503
ignorancy1526
simplehead1543
unlearnedness1555
ignoration1563
rusticity1571
ignorantness1574
ignoring1578
inscience1578
ignoramus1583
ingramness1589
lack-learning1590
idiotism1598
ignoramus1598
idiocy1605
nesciencea1625
nescio1637
inerudition1685
unawareness1847
agnosia1879
moronism1922
cluelessness1960
1847 L. Hunt Men, Women, & Bks. I. ix. 145 He stood holding the door open,..in the blandest tones of unawareness saying—‘Ah, dear me—I'm very—I beg pardon’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.1593