How one is taken by surprise (8)
I believe the answer is:
unawares
'by surprise' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'how one is taken' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'one' could be 'un' (northern English dialect form of 'one') and 'un' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for unawares that I've seen before include "Be caught thus to be taken by surprise" , "without intending to" , "Unexpectedly - suddenly" , "in the dark" , "Be taken thus to be surprised" .)