Where does “unawares” come from?
Unawares derives from English aware, prefixed with un-, ultimately tracing to Latin unus and Proto-Indo-European óynos, both meaning "one," with the sense developing toward "not knowing" through the notion of singular inattention.
unawares (English): Unexpectedly or by surprise; Inadvertently;...
Definitions
- Unexpectedly or by surprise; Inadvertently;...
Ancestry of “unawares”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | unaware | Not aware or informed; lacking knowledge; Not... |
| 2 | English | aware | Vigilant or on one's guard against danger or... |
| 3 | Middle English | aware | — |
| 4 | Old English | ġewær | aware |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | gawar | aware, noticing something |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | worós | attentive |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wēr- | true |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |