awed

[awd]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR awed ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

filled with or expressing awe.

Origin of awed

First recorded in 1635–45; awe + -ed²

Related formsaw·ed·ly

[aw-id-lee, awd-] /ˈɔ ɪd li, ˈɔd-/, adverbaw·ed·ness, nounun·awed, adjective

awe

[aw]

noun

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.

Archaic. power to inspire fear or reverence.

Obsolete. fear or dread.

verb (used with object), awed, aw·ing.

to inspire with awe.

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 for awe

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR awe ON THESAURUS.COM

1. wonder, veneration.

Antonyms for awe

1. apathy; contempt.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for awed

dazzle, intimidate, frighten, alarm, stupefy, impress, startle, astonish, appall, horrify, daunt, stun, scare, terrify, flabbergast, cow, grandstand, strike, overawe, showboat

Examples from the Web for awed

Contemporary Examples of awed

I am awed by the resilience of these people whose sexual identities are literally a matter of life and death.
Out and Proud in El Salvador’s Murderous Gangland
Gene Robinson
July 13, 2014
The couple appeared so awed by the rock that it left them feeling somewhat speechless.
Will and Kate Recall Charles and Di At Ayer's Rock
Tom Sykes
April 22, 2014
I see how hard it is and I see how amazing it is, and I am awed by my friends' parenting skills.
Why I Choose to Be Child-Free: Readers Share Their Stories
Harry Siegel
February 27, 2013
Cronkite the correspondent may have been awed, but Cronkite the human being knew enough not to get too close.
The Story of the American Journalists Who Landed on D-Day
Timothy M. Gay
June 6, 2012
Iran was awed by the majesty of the Shahanshah, the king of kings, and thought it was at the zenith of greatness.
Use Islam to End the Iranian Regime
Nazee Moinian
June 24, 2009

Historical Examples of awed

His very desolation, amidst the unfamiliar faces, awed and chilled him.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Caeri was awed by the noble and fearless manner of the stranger.
Gomez Arias
Joaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso
And now again she spoke in almost awed tones of my "deepness."
Ruggles of Red Gap
Harry Leon Wilson
The savage and the satyr might have beheld, and been awed into reverence.
Imogen
William Godwin
Neither spoke for a long time; an awed silence rested on them.
The Downfall
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for awed

awe

noun

overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or dread

archaic power to inspire fear or reverence

verb

(tr) to inspire with reverence or dread

Derived Formsaweless or US awless, adjective

Word Origin for awe

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 awed

awe

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

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