unawares
adverb /ˌʌnəˈweəz/
/ˌʌnəˈwerz/
- when not expected
- The camera had caught her unawares.
- The announcement took me unawares.
- She came upon him unawares when he was searching her room.
- (formal) without noticing or realizing
- He slipped unawares into sleep.
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from unaware + -s.