athwart

[uh-thwawrt]

adverb

1. from side to side; crosswise.

2. Nautical.

   1. at right angles to the fore-and-aft line; across.

   2. broadside to the wind because of equal and opposite pressures of wind and tide.

      a ship riding athwart.

3. perversely; awry; wrongly.

preposition

1. from side to side of; across.

2. Nautical.,  across the direction or course of.

3. in opposition to; contrary to.

athwart

/ əˈθwɔːt /

adverb

1. transversely; from one side to another

preposition

1. across the path or line of (esp a ship)

2. in opposition to; against

Word History and Origins

Origin of athwart¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; a- ¹, thwart

Word History and Origins

Origin of athwart¹

C15: from _a- ² + _thwart

Example Sentences

Caivano elaborated on Washington's various interventionist economic policies, including a number of legislative and executive measures that were initially very unpopular because they seemed to run athwart the notion of a government with limited power.

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Leaders decided to stand athwart a liberalizing Orange County instead of adapt.

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“If you are opening a Mexican restaurant on Melrose in the 1970s, you are basically standing athwart the past and future of Mexican food in Los Angeles,” he said.

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There’s more, of course, in the vein of those coming athwart of fate.

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Still, some of those standing athwart Santos’ defenestration yelling “Stop!” — or at least “Think this through” — make good points.

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Related Words

• crosswise 
• from side to side www.thesaurus.com