A. adv. 1. = UNAWARES adv. 1 a.
1592. Shaks., 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, April, xxviii.
| A Zephyr straying out of heaven’s wide room | |
| Rush’d down, and 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, trans. 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. Chr. 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 † Unawared a.; Unawaredly adv.; Unawareness.
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. Starp, in Life, xv. (1910), 244. It is unawaredly that she whispers to me.
