/ ˌʌnəˈweəz; NAmE -ˈwerz/ adverb
1.
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.
2.
( formal ) without noticing or realizing :
He slipped unawares into sleep.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from unaware + -s .