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awe

[aw]
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noun
  1. an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God; in awe of great political figures.
  2. Archaic. power to inspire fear or reverence.
  3. Obsolete. fear or dread.
verb (used with object), awed, aw·ing.
  1. to inspire with awe.
  2. to influence or restrain by awe.

Origin of awe

1250–1300; Middle English aghe, awe < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse agi fear, cognate with Gothic agis, Old English ege, Greek áchos pain
Related formsout·awe, verb (used with object), out·awed, out·aw·ing.

Synonyms

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1. wonder, veneration.

Antonyms

1. apathy; contempt.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for awes

Historical Examples

  • But the sight, though it awes us, does not depress us or deter us.

    The Heart of Nature

    Francis Younghusband

  • Surely it can't be merely his habit;——there's something in him that awes me.

  • Hence, while the one pleases, the other awes and subdues us.

  • Then comes the dark cell, an experience which awes the boldest.

    Nevermore

    Rolf Boldrewood

  • The majesty of Night is so contagious, it awes, it inspires.

    Vendetta

    Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for awes

awe

noun
  1. overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or dread
  2. archaic power to inspire fear or reverence
verb
  1. (tr) to inspire with reverence or dread
Derived Formsaweless or US awless, adjective

Word Origin

C13: from Old Norse agi; related to Gothic agis fear, Greek akhesthai to be grieved
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for awes

awe

n.

c.1300, earlier aghe, c.1200, from a Scandinavian source, e.g. Old Norse agi "fright;" from Proto-Germanic *agiz- (cf. Old English ege "fear," Old High German agiso "fright, terror," Gothic agis "fear, anguish"), from PIE *agh-es- (cf. Greek akhos "pain, grief"), from root *agh- "to be depressed, be afraid" (see ail). Current sense of "dread mixed with veneration" is due to biblical use with reference to the Supreme Being. Awe-inspiring is recorded from 1814.

awe

v.

c.1300, from awe (n.); Old English had egan (v.). Related: Awed; awing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper