Crossword Dictionary
OBLIVIOUS
oblivious, unmindful - a
(followed by `to' or `of') lacking conscious awareness of; "oblivious of the mounting pressures for political reform"; "oblivious to the risks she ran"; "not unmindful of the heavy responsibility"
Synonyms
blind, deaf, inattentive, unconcerned, unfamiliar, uninformed, absent, absentminded, absorbed, abstracted
Examples
The town of Ouray was so oblivious to these frequent winter gifts from Mother Nature that snow caused not a hitch in the local activities.
She swung by him, oblivious that she was rubbing her ample chest against him in the passing.
They stuck around, pretending to pick up glasses and snack plates while the Dawkins four quarreled, oblivious to their presence.
Etymology
mid-15c., "forgetful, disposed to forget, heedless," from Latin obliviosus "forgetful, that easily forgets; producing forgetfulness," from oblivio "forgetfulness, a being forgotten"(see oblivion). Meaning "unaware, unconscious (of something)" is by 1862; it formerly was regarded as erroneous, but this is now the main meaning and the word has lost its original sense of "no longer aware or mindful." Properly it should be used with to, not of. Related: Obliviously; obliviousness.