'unawareness' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'aware' from Old English 'gewær', meaning 'watchful' or 'vigilant'.

'gewær' transformed into the Middle English word 'aware', and eventually became the modern English word 'aware'. The prefix 'un-' was added to form 'unaware', and the noun form 'unawareness' was derived from it.

Initially, 'aware' meant 'watchful' or 'vigilant', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact'.