Unwary

a. [UN-¹ 7.]

  1.  Not wary; unguarded, incautious: a. Of persons (or animals).

  In Langland’s Piers Pl., A. IV. 24 two manuscripts have ‘vnwary,’ but the correct reading is doubtful.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Dec., 10. O soueraigne Pan…, Which … Doest saue from mischiefe the vnwary sheepe. Ibid. (1596), F. Q., VI. x. 3. T’entrap vnwary fooles in their eternall bales.

1598.  Florio, Disauedere,… to be vnwarie, not to regard.

1624.  Gataker, Wife in Deed, 63. There is no woman almost so vnwise or vnwarie, that will buy an earthen pitcher,… but she will view it well first.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., III. xxxvii. 234. The private actions of an ignorant, unwary man.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 263. These were his true principles tho’ he had disguised them in order to catch unwary readers.

1759.  Robertson, Hist. Scot., VII. Wks. 1813, I. 513. No wonder pretexts so plausible should impose on the unwary queen.

1820.  Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., II. 178. The fish were numerous and unwary.

1896.  W. K. Leask, H. Miller, iv. 99. The unwary disputant emerged in a highly battered condition.

  absol.  1637.  Earl Monm., trans. Malvezzi’s Romulus & T., 177. Tarquin is not to be ranked amongst the unwary.

1707.  Atterbury, Serm. (1726), II. 174. Its Emissaries are … very busy in Corners, to seduce the Unwary.

1848.  Mrs. Jameson, Sacr. & Leg. Art, I. 70. With … flexile claws … stretched out to seize and entangle the unwary.

  b.  Of actions, conduct, the mind, etc.

1610.  G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict., I. lxxxiv. With that the mightie thunder dropt away From Gods unwarie arme.

1643.  Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 1. Those principles my Parents instilled into my unwary understanding.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 415. Sparkling fire, from hinds unwary hands.

1703.  Rowe, Ulysses, I. i. ’Tis rash, and savours of unwary Youth.

1747.  Hervey, Contempl. Night (1748), II. 12. How often has an unwary glance, kindled a Fever of irregular Desire in our Hearts?

1803.  Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), III. 180. It is a most unwary step.

1867.  Lady Herbert, Cradle L., v. 151. An unwary emptying of their … leather water-bottles before half the day was over.

  † 2.  Unexpected. Obs.^–1

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 25. All in the open hall amazed stood, At suddeinnesse of that vnwarie sight.