| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| aware |
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| SYLLABICATION: | a·ware |
| PRONUNCIATION: |   -wâr |
| ADJECTIVE: | 1. Having knowledge or cognizance: aware of the difference between the two versions; became aware of faint sound. 2. Archaic Vigilant; watchful. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, variant of iwar, from Old English gewær. See wer-3 in Appendix I. | | OTHER FORMS: | a·wareness —NOUN
| | SYNONYMS: | aware, cognizant, conscious, sensible, awake, alert, watchful, vigilant These adjectives mean mindful or heedful: Aware implies knowledge gained through one's own perceptions or by means of information: Are you aware of your opponent's hostility? I am aware that the legislation passed. Cognizant is a formal equivalent of aware: “Our research indicates that the nation's youth are cognizant of the law” (Jerry D. Jennings). Conscious emphasizes the recognition of something sensed or felt: “an importance . . . of which even Americans are barely conscious” (William Stanley Jevons). Sensible implies knowledge gained through intuition or intellectual perception: “I am sensible that the mention of such a circumstance may appear trifling” (Henry Hallam). To be awake is to have full consciousness of something: “as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself” (Jane Austen). Alert stresses quickness to recognize and respond: I remained alert to career opportunities. Watchful and vigilant imply looking out for what is dangerous or potentially so: The watchful parents protected their toddler. The ranger kept a vigilant eye out for forest fires.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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