UNWARILY Meaning and
Definition
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Unwarily is an adverb that describes an action or behavior performed without adequate caution, careful thought, or consideration of potential risks or consequences. It denotes a lack of wariness or prudence in one's actions or decisions.
When someone acts or makes decisions unwarily, they do so without taking sufficient care to anticipate or avoid potential dangers, pitfalls, or negative outcomes. This lack of vigilance often stems from a failure to assess the situation thoroughly, failing to weigh the potential risks or consequences adequately.
For instance, an unwary individual may unknowingly trust someone who later takes advantage of their vulnerability or easily falls into a trap or scam due to their gullibility or lack of skepticism. Similarly, an unwary driver may fail to check their blind spot before changing lanes, leading to an accident.
The term unwarily is closely related to other terms such as recklessly, carelessly, or incautiously, although it emphasizes more on the absence of caution or carefulness, rather than complete disregard for potential dangers. While it often refers to actions or behaviors, it can also describe a state of mind, where one is unaware or disregards the potential risks or consequences of their actions. To act unwarily is to expose oneself to unnecessary risks that could have been avoided if more prudence or thoughtfulness had been applied.
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Without vigilance or caution; heedlessly.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for UNWARILY
Etymology of UNWARILY
The word "unwarily" is an adverb form of the adjective "unwary". The etymology of "unwary" can be traced back to the Middle English word "unwar", which means "not cautious" or "heedless". It comes from the combination of the prefix "un-" (indicating negation) and the Middle English word "war", meaning "watchful" or "cautious". The Old English origin of "war" is "wær", which shares its roots with the Old High German word "war" and the Old Norse word "varr". Overall, the etymology of "unwarily" reflects its meaning of lacking caution or not being watchful.
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