unconsciously

UK: ʌnˈkɒnʃəsli | US: ʌnˈkɑːnʃəsli

Definition

  1. adv. without conscious awareness or intention

  2. adv. in a manner not perceived by the mind

Structure
un <not>conscious <aware>ly <adverb suffix>
Etymology

The word "unconsciously" is built from three morphemes:

  1. "un-" (Old English "un-"), a prefix meaning "not," negates the following root.
  2. "conscious" (Latin "conscius," from "com-" (with) + "scire" (to know)), meaning "aware."
  3. "-ly" (Old English "-līc"), an adverbial suffix turning adjectives into adverbs.
    The term evolved from Latin through Old French, retaining its core meaning of "lack of awareness" while gaining grammatical flexibility through suffixation.
Examples

  1. She unconsciously tapped her foot to the rhythm of the music.

  2. He unconsciously avoided eye contact when lying.

  3. The habit was so ingrained that she did it unconsciously.

  4. They unconsciously mimicked each other’s gestures during the conversation.

  5. The memory resurfaced unconsciously in her dreams.