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unwarned

unwarned

5.7
Happening when no one is told beforehand
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈwɔrnd/
translation icon : sin previo aviso
  • His huge desk, at the center of a high spire room in the Pan-Galactic tower, was surrounded by his off-Earth trophies, monsters apt to startle unwarned visitors.
  • an unwarned confession
  • an unwarned statement

Examples

  • In considering Section 3501, Congress balanced the costs and benefits of a rule excluding all unwarned confessions against the costs and benefits of allowing the trial court to decide on the facts of each case whether the suspect spoke voluntarily.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The Pentagon's document "Defense Planning Guidance" for 2004 to 2009 calls on the military services to develop the capability to launch "unwarned" preemptive strikes.

    Academic text (2002)
  • But future unwarned, All zaplovismo in search for the island of fog.

  • In Dickerson, for example, the district court found Dickerson's unwarned statements voluntary under the Fifth Amendment.

    Academic text (2001)
  • It knew the obvious, namely, that a court is distinctly less likely to find an unwarned statement to have been voluntary, but that sometimes the court would decide that other circumstances proved the statement's voluntary character.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Miranda goes beyond the Fifth Amendment in requiring the suppression of voluntary but unwarned confessions, like the confession given by Dickerson.

    Academic text (2001)
  • But that is very different from saying that Congress has no authority to modify a ruling that "overprotects" a constitutional right, as Miranda's automatic rule excluding all unwarned custodial statements clearly does.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The majority in Dickerson viewed these statements not as "proving that Miranda is a nonconstitutional decision" but rather that "unreasonable searches under the Fourth Amendment are different from unwarned interrogation under the Fifth Amendment."

    Academic text (2001)
  • The sudden loud noise caught me completely unwarned and I jumped in surprise.

  • She walked into the meeting unwarned, unaware that a decision had already been made.

Synonyms

unsuspecting
vsunwarned
53 4.2

Not aware that someone might harm or trick you

focuses on absence of prior notice, not innocence or naivety
unannounced
vsunwarned
43 4.5

Coming without telling anyone first

is the neutral adjective or adverb meaning without any warning or notice
unanticipated
vsunwarned
10 5.8

Happening suddenly without warning

refers instead to lack of any prior warning or notice
off-guard
vsunwarned
3 4.9

Not ready or alert when something surprises you

centers on lack of prior warning rather than being unprepared
unheralded
vsunwarned
1 7.4

Happening suddenly without warning

is similar but used broadly to mean no advance warning
unalerted
vsunwarned
5.8

Not aware or warned about something that needs attention

means no advance warning rather than lack of awareness

How Warned

unsuspecting
53 4.2
unwarned
5.7

Surface Forms

unwarned positive

Morphology

unwarned = warned (transparent) = un + warn + ed

The negative prefix 'un-' directly negates the past participle 'warned' to mean 'without warning', a straightforward and predictable formation for learners.

Etymology

Unwarned is made of un- meaning 'not' and warn meaning 'to tell someone about danger or a problem', so unwarned means 'not given a warning' or 'without any notice'.