unaware, adv. and a.
(ʌnəˈwɛə(r))
[un-1 11 b and 7: cf. uniware and unware.]
A. adv.
1. = unawares adv. 1 a.
| 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 823 As one that unaware Hath dropp'd a precious jewel in the flood. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 156 Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, Belike through impotence, or unaware. 1700 Dryden Pal. & Arc. ii. 18 To his Keeper this [beverage] he brought, Who swallow'd unaware the sleepy Draught. a 1800 Cowper Odyss. (ed. 2) xix. 634 She pours her echoing voice,..Deploring Itylus, whom she destroy'd (Her son by royal Zethus) unaware. 1862 Mrs. Browning False Step ii, Thou only hast stepped unaware,—Malice, not one can impute. |
2. = unawares adv. 2.
| 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 547 Some high-climbing Hill, Which to his eye discovers unaware The goodly prospect. 1700 Dryden Pal. & Arc. i. 258 A Glance of some new Goddess gave the Wound, Whom, like Acteon, unaware I found. 1818 Keats Endym. iv. 879 Long have I sought for rest, and, unaware, Behold I find it! 1885–94 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche Apr. xxviii, A Zephyr..gathering round her unaware Fill'd with his breath her vesture and her veil. |
3. In phr. at unaware: cf. unawares adv. 4.
| 1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence, Heautont. iv. i, Thou doest all things at unaware and unadvisedly. 1644 T. Case Serm., Quarrel of the Covenant 6 Floods of wrath and vengeance might break in upon them at unaware. 1700 Dryden Pal. & Arc. i. 492 A Serpent shoots his Sting at unaware. 1855 Browning An Epistle 296 So we met In this old sleepy town at unaware, The man and I. 1866 C. Rossetti Prince's Progr., etc. 20 At unaware They met eye to eye. |
B. adj.
1. Not aware; not cognizant; ignorant. Const. of, or with clause.
| 1704 Swift T. Tub i, I am not unaware how the Productions of the Grub-street Brotherhood have..fallen under many Prejudices. 1809–10 Coleridge Friend (1865) 121 Of this important fact Rousseau was by no means unaware. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. iii. (1878) 34 He spoke in the most matter-of-fact tone, unaware of anything poetic in what he said. |
2. Reckless; lacking caution; unwary.
| 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam vi. xv, I lost all sense or care, And like the rest I grew desperate and unaware. |
Hence † unaˈwared a.; unaˈwaredly adv.; unaˈwareness.
| 1652 Sparke Prim. Devot. (1663) 114 A barbarous surprise of unawared sufferers, affording them neither opportunity of defence or preparation. 1847 L. Hunt Men, Women & B. 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’. 1895 W. Sharp in Life xv. (1910) 244 It is unawaredly that she whispers to me. |