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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

unawares en · ADV

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˌʌnəˈwɛə(ɹ)z/

Etymology

From unaware + -s (adverbial suffix). Attested earlier than unaware.

Meanings

  1. (not-comparable) Unexpectedly or by surprise.
    • Your question catches/takes me unawares, I don't know the answer right now...
    • And I with these untoward thoughts had striven, / I saw a Man before me unawares: / The oldest Man he seemed that ever wore grey hairs. 1815 [1802], William Wordsworth, Resolution and Independence:
  2. (not-comparable) Inadvertently.
    • I'm afraid I've taken the wrong coat, unawares.
  3. (not-comparable) Without plan or forethought.

Relateds

unaware · at unawares · unawarely

Translations (32)

ru враспло́х (unexpectedly or by surprise) · da uplanlagt (without plan or forethought) · da uforvarende (unexpectedly or by surprise) · uk знена́цька (unexpectedly or by surprise) · nb uforvarende (unexpectedly or by surprise) · cmn 毫無準備 /毫无准备 (without plan or forethought) · fr au dépourvu (unexpectedly or by surprise) · pl znienacka (unexpectedly or by surprise) · pl niechcący (inadvertently) · pl bezwiednie (without plan or forethought) · cmn 措手不及 (unexpectedly or by surprise) · bg ненадейно (unexpectedly or by surprise) · fi yllättäen (unexpectedly or by surprise) · de unversehens (unexpectedly or by surprise) · da på sengen (unexpectedly or by surprise) · fi miettimättä (without plan or forethought) · pl przez nieuwagę (inadvertently) · fr à l'improviste (unexpectedly or by surprise) · bg неочаквано (unexpectedly or by surprise) · pl niezamierzenie (inadvertently) · pl nieświadomie (without plan or forethought) · nb på sengen (unexpectedly or by surprise) · pl nieumyślnie (inadvertently) · sa अम्नस् (unexpectedly or by surprise) · bg неумишлено (without plan or forethought) · pl nieuważnie (inadvertently) · ga gan fhios (unexpectedly or by surprise) · cmn 未經準備 /未经准备 (without plan or forethought) · cmn 出其不意 (unexpectedly or by surprise) · fr à l'improviste (without plan or forethought) · gd gun fhiosta (unexpectedly or by surprise) · pl niespodziewanie (unexpectedly or by surprise)