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unversehens

unexpectedly, unawares

adverb UN-fer-zay-ens Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Manner

Also means

before one knows it

Usage Note

Unversehens (literally 'unseen') describes something that happens before one has a chance to see or prepare for it. Unversehens war ein Jahr vergangen — before one knew it, a year had passed. It has a literary flavour and implies the speed at which something crept up.

Examples

"Unversehens hatte sich die Situation verändert."

Natural Translation

Before anyone knew it, the situation had changed.

Literal Translation

Unawares the situation had itself changed.

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