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awkward

 - 3 dictionary results

awk⋅ward

  [awk-werd]
Use awkward in a Sentence
–adjective
1. lacking skill or dexterity; clumsy.
2. lacking grace or ease in movement: an awkward gesture; an awkward dancer.
3. lacking social graces or manners: a simple, awkward frontiersman.
4. not well planned or designed for easy or effective use: an awkward instrument; an awkward method.
5. requiring caution; somewhat hazardous; dangerous: an awkward turn in the road.
6. hard to deal with; difficult; requiring skill, tact, or the like: an awkward situation; an awkward customer.
7. embarrassing or inconvenient; caused by lack of social grace: an awkward moment
8. Obsolete. untoward; perverse.
Origin:
1300–50; ME, equiv. to awk(e), auk(e) backhanded, OE *afoc (< ON ǫfugr turned the wrong way; c. OS, OHG abuh, OE afu(h)lic wrong, off ) + -ward -ward

Related forms:
awk⋅ward⋅ly, adverb
awk⋅ward⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. unskillful, unhandy, inexpert.

Antonyms:
1. deft, adroit. 2. graceful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To awkward
awk·ward   (ôk'wərd)   
adj.  

  1. Not graceful; ungainly.

    1. Not dexterous; clumsy.

    2. Clumsily or unskillfully performed: The opera was marred by an awkward aria.

    3. Difficult to handle or manage: an awkward bundle to carry.

    4. Difficult to effect; uncomfortable: an awkward pose.

    5. Marked by or causing embarrassment or discomfort: an awkward remark; an awkward silence.

    6. Requiring great tact, ingenuity, skill, and discretion: An awkward situation arose during the peace talks.

    1. Difficult to handle or manage: an awkward bundle to carry.

    2. Difficult to effect; uncomfortable: an awkward pose.

    3. Marked by or causing embarrassment or discomfort: an awkward remark; an awkward silence.

    4. Requiring great tact, ingenuity, skill, and discretion: An awkward situation arose during the peace talks.

    1. Marked by or causing embarrassment or discomfort: an awkward remark; an awkward silence.

    2. Requiring great tact, ingenuity, skill, and discretion: An awkward situation arose during the peace talks.


[Middle English awkeward, in the wrong way : awke, wrong (from Old Norse öfugr, backward; see apo- in Indo-European roots) + -ward, -ward.]
awk'ward·ly adv., awk'ward·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

awkward 
1340, "in the wrong direction," from awk "back-handed" (obsolete since 1600s), from O.N. afugr "turned backwards" (from P.Gmc. *afug-, from PIE *apu-ko-, from base *apo- "off, away;" see apo-) + adverbial suffix -weard. Meaning "clumsy" first recorded 1530.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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