How Do You Spell UNWITTINGLY?

Pronunciation: [ʌnwˈɪtɪŋlɪ] (IPA)

Unwittingly is a word with an unusual spelling, making it tricky for some people to spell correctly. The word is pronounced as /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋli/ and means to do something without knowledge or intention. Its spelling is a combination of the prefix "un-" meaning not or without, and "wittingly," meaning to do something intentionally. The word's spelling can be confusing because it doesn't adhere to the typical -ing suffix, making it important to remember that it is spelled with two Ts in the middle.

UNWITTINGLY Meaning and Definition

1. Unwittingly is an adverb that describes an action or behavior that is done without knowledge, awareness, or intention. It refers to a person's state of being unaware or oblivious to the consequences, implications, or significance of their actions, words, or decisions. When someone does something unwittingly, they do it without realizing the true nature or impact of their behavior.

   This term implies a lack of deliberate thought or consciousness regarding a particular situation. It suggests that the person is acting or speaking without being fully informed or attentive to the potential outcomes. Unwittingly often signifies an innocent or accidental action rather than a deliberate or intentional one.

   The adverb unwittingly is commonly used to explain situations where individuals make mistakes or cause unintended harm due to their lack of awareness. For instance, if someone inadvertently discloses confidential information without realizing its sensitivity, they would be said to have unwittingly divulged the information. Similarly, if a person unknowingly offends someone with their remarks, they have unwittingly hurt that person's feelings.

   Overall, unwittingly describes actions that are performed unintentionally, unknowingly, or without awareness. It suggests a lack of intent or consciousness regarding the repercussions of one's behavior, indicating that the person acted without full knowledge or understanding of the consequences.

2. Without knowledge or consciousness; ignorantly.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for UNWITTINGLY *

• unwitingly 100%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for UNWITTINGLY

• unwittenly
• unwantingly
• unwilingly
• unwttingly
• unwittinly
• Unpiteingly
• Unwittingely
• Unwiteingly
• Unwitinglly
• Unwitingaly
• Unwitngly
• unwitigly
• unattinbly

Etymology of UNWITTINGLY

The word "unwittingly" is derived from the combination of two elements: "un-" and "wittingly".

1. "Un-": This is a prefix dating back to Old English, meaning "not" or "lack of". It is commonly used to form negative words or to indicate the opposite or absence of something.

2. "Wittingly": This word is derived from the Old English word "witan", meaning "to know" or "to be aware". Over time, it transformed into "wit", which meant "knowledge" or "understanding". The suffix "-ly" adds the meaning of "in a particular manner" to the root word.

Therefore, "unwittingly" is formed by combining the negative prefix "un-" and the word "wittingly", which means "knowingly" or "with awareness".

Similar spelling words for UNWITTINGLY

• unwitting,
• untempting,
• unattainably.