aware English · revision 3095

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1095|origins=gem-pro *ga-waraz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /əˈweə/, US /əˈwer/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|aware]], earlier iwar,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) [[inh|ang|ġewær|t=watchful, vigilant]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*ga-waraz]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from the intensive or collective prefix [[m|gem-pro|*ga-]] and [[m|gem-pro|*waraz|t=wary, cautious]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*wer-|t=to perceive, watch out for]].^(Etymonline) It is cognate with Old Saxon giwar, Middle Dutch gheware and Old High German giwar (German gewahr).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) [[wary|alt=Wary]] is from the same root.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Watchful, vigilant, on one's guard: 1095 in the OED^(OED 1989) (Old English ġewær about 950, in the ''Lindisfarne Gospels'', in Barnhart).^(Barnhart 1988) The form with a- is probably from before 1325.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An early meaning was “vigilant, cautious”, and also “informed”.^(Cresswell 2021) The sense “informed, cognizant, conscious”, which is the usual one today, is from 1205 in the OED^(OED 1989) and the 14th century in Hoad,^(Hoad 1986) while “on one's guard” is now obsolete.^(Hoad 1986) An elliptical use without ''be'', like an imperative (“beware”), is from about 1530.^(OED 1989) A newer sense, “well informed about current issues”, is in Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 950 – Old English ġewær.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1095 – watchful, vigilant.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1205 – informed, conscious.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1325 – the form ''aware''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having knowledge or [[perception]] of something; [[conscious]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Informed about current developments: ''politically aware''.^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Watchful; [[vigilant]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[awareness]]

+ * [[hyperaware]]

+ * [[self-aware]]

+ * [[self-awareness]]

+ * [[well-aware]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wary]]

+ * [[beware]]

+ * [[ware]]

+ * [[guard]]

+ * [[warden]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary distinguishes it from ''cognizant'', ''conscious'' and ''sensible'': ''aware'' implies knowledge gained through one's own perception or from information.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}