unbeknown

[uhn-bi-nohn]

See more synonyms for unbeknown on Thesaurus.com

adjective

unknown; unperceived; without one's knowledge (usually followed by to).

Also un·be·knownst

[uhn-bi-nohnst] /ˌʌn bɪˈnoʊnst/.

Origin of unbeknown

1630–40; un-¹ + beknown (late Middle English beknowe, past participle of beknowen); see be-, known

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unbeknownst

Contemporary Examples

In reality, he and been off in Argentina with his girlfriend, unbeknownst to his wife.
Mark Sanford’s Epic Facebook Overshare
Olivia Nuzzi
September 12, 2014
Unbeknownst to him, the orb contains an Infinity Stone, which holds within it the power to destroy entire planets.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Filmmaker James Gunn on His Glorious Space Opera and Rise to the A-List
Marlow Stern
August 3, 2014
Unbeknownst to Rullo, Scotto had not only been caught by the feds but agreed to cooperate with them.
Is FedEx America’s No. 1 Drug Dealer?
Abby Haglage
July 29, 2014
Unbeknownst to Butler, that issue already existed—and Westbrook was, naturally, its cover star.
NBA Style: Full-Court Dress
Erin Cunningham
May 11, 2014
But, unbeknownst to the Italians, the men in the boat—identified as Ajesh “Pinky” Bink and Jelestine—were not pirates after all.
Italian Pirate-Fighting Marines On Trial
Barbie Latza Nadeau
February 14, 2014

Historical Examples

That's 'bout the only way he'll ever do one, Frank, unbeknownst like.
Old Man Curry
Charles E. (Charles Emmett) Van Loan
Unbeknownst to her, Mildred would be protected against these dangers.
The Strange Adventures of Mr. Middleton
Wardon Allan Curtis
But unbeknownst to it, this very violence thrived on these pecuniary fertilizers.
After the Rain
Sam Vaknin
Some of them carriers, I expect, puttin' their horses in unbeknownst to you.
An Outback Marriage
Andrew Barton Paterson
Unbeknownst to yourself, dear, you bore him what he wanted, and what I wanted.
The Soul of Susan Yellam
Horace Annesley Vachell

British Dictionary definitions for unbeknownst

unbeknown

adverb

(sentence modifier foll by to) without the knowledge (of a person)unbeknown to him she had left the country Also (esp Brit): unbeknownst

adjective

(postpositive usually foll by to) rare not known (to)

Word Origin

C17: from the archaic beknown known; see be-, know

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unbeknownst

1833, vulgar formation from unbeknown (1630s). No clear reason for the -st, but since 19c. this has become the dominant form.

unbeknown

adj.

1630s, from un- (1) "not" + beknown (see beknow).

unbeknown

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}unbeknown

Examples from the Web for unbeknownst

Contemporary Examples

In reality, he and been off in Argentina with his girlfriend, unbeknownst to his wife.

Unbeknownst to him, the orb contains an Infinity Stone, which holds within it the power to destroy entire planets.

Unbeknownst to Rullo, Scotto had not only been caught by the feds but agreed to cooperate with them.

Unbeknownst to Butler, that issue already existed—and Westbrook was, naturally, its cover star.

But, unbeknownst to the Italians, the men in the boat—identified as Ajesh “Pinky” Bink and Jelestine—were not pirates after all.

Historical Examples

That's 'bout the only way he'll ever do one, Frank, unbeknownst like.

Unbeknownst to her, Mildred would be protected against these dangers.

But unbeknownst to it, this very violence thrived on these pecuniary fertilizers.

Some of them carriers, I expect, puttin' their horses in unbeknownst to you.

Unbeknownst to yourself, dear, you bore him what he wanted, and what I wanted.

unbeknown

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for unbeknownst

unbeknown

adj.

Origin of unbeknown