2. The state of being struck with awe; a spirit of solemnity; profound reverence. [Obs.]
Producing in us reverence and awfulness.
Jer. Taylor.
Awhape
(A*whape") v. t. [Cf. whap blow.] To confound; to terrify; to amaze. [Obs.] Spenser.
Awhile
(A*while") adv. [Adj. a + while time, interval.] For a while; for some time; for a short time.
Awing
(A*wing") adv. [Pref. a- + wing.] On the wing; flying; fluttering. Wallace.
Awk
(Awk) a. [OE. auk, awk (properly) turned away; (hence) contrary, wrong, from Icel. öfigr, öfugr,
afigr, turning the wrong way, fr. af off, away; cf. OHG. abuh, Skr. apac turned away, fr. apa off, away
+ a root ak, a&uork, to bend, from which come also E. angle, anchor.]
1. Odd; out of order; perverse. [Obs.]
2. Wrong, or not commonly used; clumsy; sinister; as, the awk end of a rod [Obs.] Golding.
3. Clumsy in performance or manners; unhandy; not dexterous; awkward. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Awk
(Awk), adv. Perversely; in the wrong way. L'Estrange.
Awkly
(Awk"ly), adv.
1. In an unlucky (left-handed) or perverse manner. [Obs.] Holland.
2. Awkwardly. [Obs.] Fuller.
Awkward
(Awk"ward) a. [Awk + -ward.]
1. Wanting dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments; not dexterous; without skill; clumsy; wanting
ease, grace, or effectiveness in movement; ungraceful; as, he was awkward at a trick; an awkward boy.
And dropped an awkward courtesy.
Dryden.
2. Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.
A long and awkward process.
Macaulay.
An awkward affair is one that has gone wrong, and is difficult to adjust.
C. J. Smith.
3. Perverse; adverse; untoward. [Obs.] "Awkward casualties." "Awkward wind." Shak.
O blind guides, which being of an awkward religion, do strain out a gnat, and swallow up a cancel.
Udall.
Syn. — Ungainly; unhandy; clownish; lubberly; gawky; maladroit; bungling; inelegant; ungraceful; unbecoming.
— Awkward, Clumsy, Uncouth. Awkward has a special reference to outward deportment. A man
is clumsy in his whole person, he is awkward in his gait and the movement of his limbs. Clumsiness
is seen at the first view. Awkwardness is discovered only when a person begins to move. Hence the
expressions, a clumsy appearance, and an awkward manner. When we speak figuratively of an awkward
excuse, we think of a want of ease and grace in making it; when we speak of a clumsy excuse, we
think of the whole thing as coarse and stupid. We apply the term uncouth most frequently to that which
results from the want of instruction or training; as, uncouth manners; uncouth language.
— Awk"ward*ly adv. — Awk"ward*ness, n.
