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UNCONSCIOUSLY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Without awareness
Example:
she jumped up unconsciously when he entered the room
Classified under:
Antonym:
consciously (with awareness)
Pertainym:
unconscious (not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead)
Context examples:
On the contrary, she spoke of him with such bitterness that she was unconsciously considerably strengthening the case of the police for, of course, if her son had heard her speak of the man in this fashion, it would predispose him towards hatred and violence.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Mr. Woodhouse was rather agitated by such harsh reflections on his friend Perry, to whom he had, in fact, though unconsciously, been attributing many of his own feelings and expressions;—but the soothing attentions of his daughters gradually removed the present evil, and the immediate alertness of one brother, and better recollections of the other, prevented any renewal of it.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
It seemed to her that Captain Tilney was falling in love with Isabella, and Isabella unconsciously encouraging him; unconsciously it must be, for Isabella's attachment to James was as certain and well acknowledged as her engagement.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
His mind, now disengaged from the cares which had pressed on him at first, was at leisure to find the Grants and their young inmates really worth visiting; and though infinitely above scheming or contriving for any the most advantageous matrimonial establishment that could be among the apparent possibilities of any one most dear to him, and disdaining even as a littleness the being quick-sighted on such points, he could not avoid perceiving, in a grand and careless way, that Mr. Crawford was somewhat distinguishing his niece—nor perhaps refrain (though unconsciously) from giving a more willing assent to invitations on that account.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
In their excitement they had unconsciously seized each other by the hand, and stood like two little children in the presence of a marvel, Challenger's cheeks bunched up into a seraphic smile, and Summerlee's sardonic face softening for the moment into wonder and reverence.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
When we met in Dr. Seward's study two hours after dinner, which had been at six o'clock, we unconsciously formed a sort of board or committee.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
Jo couldn't help smiling at the important air which Meg had unconsciously assumed and which was as becoming as the pretty color varying in her cheeks.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be, and unconsciously closed his book.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
The existence of anything is sufficient vindication of its fitness to exist—to exist, mark you, as the average person unconsciously believes, not merely in present conditions, but in all conditions.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Thus much indeed he was obliged to acknowledge: that he had been constant unconsciously, nay unintentionally; that he had meant to forget her, and believed it to be done.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
