Etymology : Middle English iwar, from Old English gewær, from ge- + wær wary; more at CO-, WARY
Pronunciation : &-war, -wer
Function : adjective
Date : before 12th century
1. attentive; conscious of. aware\a*ware"\ , a. [oe. iwar, as. gew?r, fr. w?r wary. the pref. ge- orig. meant together, completely. . see:
wary.].
2. watchful; vigilant or on one's guard against danger or difficulty.
3. apprised; informed; cognizant; conscious; as, he was aware of the enemy's designs. aware of nothing arduous in a task they never undertook.aware adj.
4. (sometimes followed by `of') having or showing realization or perception; "was aware of his opponent's hostility"; "became aware of her surroundings"; "aware that he had exceeded the speed limit" [syn: aware(p) ] [ant: unaware].
5. bearing in mind; attentive to; "ever mindful of her health"; "mindful of his responsibilities"; "mindful of these criticisms, i shall attempt to justify my action" [syn: mindful] [ant: unmindful].
6. aware or knowing; "a witting tool of the communists" [syn: witting] [ant: unwitting].
7. (usually followed by `of') having knowledge or understanding; "our youth are cognizant of the law"; "i am well aware of his limitations" [syn: cognizant, cognisant, well aware(p) , aware(p) ] [ant: incognizant].
8. alert and fully informed; "politically aware"; "a knowing collector of rare books"; "the most...technically aware of the novelists under thirty"- w.s.graham; "surprisingly knowledgeable about what was going on" [syn: aware(p) , knowing, knowledgeable].
9. Watchful; vigilant or on one's guard against danger or difficulty.
10. Apprised; informed; cognizant; conscious; as, he was aware of the enemy's designs.
11. 1. If you are aware of something, you know about it. Smokers are well aware of the dangers to their own health He should have been aware of what his junior officers were doing He must have been aware that my parents' marriage was breaking up. ¡Ù unaware + awareness aware·ness The 1980s brought an awareness of green issues.
12. If you are aware of something, you realize that it is present or is happening because you hear it, see:
it, smell it, or feel it. She was acutely aware of the noise of the city Jane was suddenly aware that she was digging her nails into her thigh. = conscious ¡Ù unaware.
13. Someone who is aware notices what is happening around them or happening in the place where they live. They are politically very aware. + awareness aware·ness He introduced radio to the school to increase the children's awareness.