ˈwareless, a. ? Obs.
[f. ware n.1 + -less.
Very frequent in Spenser and Daniel.]
1. Unwary, incautious, imprudent.
| 1562 A. Brooke Romeus & Jul. 220 How surely are the wareless wrapt by those that lye in wayte? 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. v. 17 Yet was he iustly damned by the doome Of his owne mouth, that spake so wareless word, To be her thrall. 1595 Daniel Civ. Wars v. v, For warelesse insolence whilst vndebard Of bounding awe, runnes on to such excesse. 1751 M. Mendez Seasons xxvi. in Pearch Coll. Poems (1770) II. 241 The wareless sheep no longer bite the mead. 1767 Mickle Concub. i. xxvi, Ythrilld with Horrour gapd the wareless Wight. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake Introd. 6 Your blights, your chilling influence shed, On wareless heart and houseless head. 1847 H. S. Riddell Poems 18 But that's a' true, now that I mind To caution ane sae wareless. |
| absol. 1563 Mirr. Mag., Blacke Smyth iii, Who seemes in sight as simple as a saynt, Hath layd a bayte the wareles to begyle. |
2. Unguarded, unconscious (
of danger).
| 1562 T. Phaer æneid ix. Bb 3, And first Euryalus he seeth whom al mens hands had got, Through fraud of night and place of troublous tumult wareles trapt. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. ii. 3 Both they vnwise, and warelesse of the euill, That by themselues vnto themselues is wrought. Ibid. v. i. 22 That when he wak't out of his warelesse paine, He found him selfe, vnwist, so ill bestad, That lim he could not wag. 1821 Blackw. Mag. IX. 540 How bright it burns!—of threatening wreck To warn the wareless mariner. |