unˈwares, adv., n., and a. Now arch.
[Late OE. unwæres, unwares, f. unwær unware a.]
A. adv.
1. Without warning; unexpectedly, suddenly.
| a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1004, Forþam þe hi unwares comon, & he fyrst næfde þæt he his fyrde ᵹegadrian mihte. Ibid. an. 1093, Hine þa Rodbeard..unwæres besyrede & ofsloh. c 1400 Found. St. Bartholomew's 44 Here gladnes was turnyd yn-to waylyng;..vnwarys brake vp an violent tempest. 1512 Helyas in Thoms Prose Rom. (1828) III. 72 Makaire came wening to smite him al unwars. 1556 Robinson tr. More's Utopia To Rdr. (Arb.) 20 Yet haue I in this by chaunce, that on my side vnwares hath fallen, so..behaued myself, that [etc.]. 1615 Chapman Odyss. iv. 112 One, murderously, Unwares, unseen, bereft my brother's life. 1642 H. More Song of Soul iii. ii. xxvi, Unwares they find a sly still silver light. c 1745 A. Skirving Tranent Muir v, Menteith the great, where Hersell sate, Un'wares did ding her ower, man. 1805–6 Cary Dante, Inf. i. 52 When all unwares is gone, he inwardly Mourns, with heart-griping anguish. 1887 Morris Odyssey xii. 288 If all unwares upon us a blast of the wind should come. |
† b. his unwares, without his knowledge; unforeseen by him. Obs.
| 1468 Paston Lett. II. 328 He hathe promysyd that there schall come non; and if ther do his unwarys, yowr answer may be thys. |
† c. Const. of, or to (a person). Obs.
| c 1510 in Mem. Hen. VII (Rolls) 286 So came he to the King's secret chamber door unwares of the King. 1532 Tindale Expos. Matt. v. 20 Least anie vncleane thyng hadde touched theim unwaeres to all menne. 1625 Bacon Ps. xc. ii, As a watch by night, that course doth keepe, And goes and comes vnwares to them that sleepe. |
2. Unknowingly; without knowledge or intention; unintentionally.
| 13.. Cursor M. 2018 (Gött.), Bitid a day he was for-swonken, And vnwaris of win was dronken. 1526 Tindale Heb. xiii. 2 Thereby have dyvers receaved angels into their houses vnwares. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. 54 He did it not willyngly, but vnwares, and by chaunce. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. v. 62 It is my Fathers face, Whom in this Conflict, I (vn⁓wares) haue kill'd. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 260 Tirrell him seeing not Unwares him slew with dint of arrow shot. 1642 H. More Song of Soul ii. i. ii. 35 But to return, Lest what we aim'd at we unwares omit. |
B. n.
† 1. in unwares, = A. 2. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2018 Bitid a day he was for suonken, And in vnwars o wyn was drunken. |
† 2. at unwares, = A. 1. Obs.
In common use c 1575–1610.
| a 1547 Surrey æneis iv. 90 Like to the..Hinde..which chasing with his dartes Aloofe, the shepheard smiteth at un⁓wares, And leaves unwist in her the thirling head. 1576 Lambarde Peramb. Kent 208 The Danes..came freshly vpon the English Mariners at vnwares. 1581 Styward Mart. Discipl. i. 28 Hauing aduauntage of such as lie in scowte, who waite their time to assaile them at vnwares. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine vi. 32 The Thebanes..began a new plot of cunning purposing..to set vpon them at vnwares. 1632 Holland Cyrupædia 31 They that are skilfull to circumvent their enimies, can..put them first in a good conceit of themselves, and then surprize them at unwares. |
C. adj.
† 1. Unwary, incautious. Obs.
| 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. vii. 33 b, To the intent he maye poyson with hys heresye, them that be vnwares and negligent. 1565 Stapleton tr. Bede's Hist. Ch. Eng. 27 Thinking to steale vppon them and so easely obtaine the victory ouer them, as vnwares and vnarmed. |
† 2. Unexpected, unlooked-for. Obs.
| 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. xxvi. 26 b, As a thing vnwares & not loked for. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. x, The most..comfortable ayre, which an unwares sigh might bestow upon them. |