Awareness

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈwɛɚ.nəs/

Definitions

1. A state of being conscious and having knowledge or perception of a situation, fact, or condition
2. A mental state characterized by the recognition and understanding of one’s surroundings, experiences, or inner feelings while being cognizant of external factors and personal emotions
3. A condition in which an individual has knowledge and understanding of their environment and internal thoughts, as well as being alert to relevant external influences

Etymology: Awareness is about as plain as English etymology gets: it is the noun "aware" with the suffix "-ness" attached. "Aware" itself descends from Old English "gewær," meaning cautious or on one's guard, which is where the sense of watchfulness lingers. The suffix "-ness" has been productive since Old English, when it was "-nes," and it turns an adjective into a noun for a quality or state. So "awareness" is literally "the state of being aware," built from parts that were already in use centuries before the compound appeared. The noun is a straightforward product of that process rather than a coinage with a famous author. Its meaning has stayed close to its parts: a state of knowing what is around you, or more broadly, of having knowledge or perception of something.

Synonyms: consciousness, recognition, understanding, knowledge

Antonyms: ignorance, unawareness