awkward
[ awk-werd ]
/ ˈɔk wərd /
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adjective
OTHER WORDS FOR awkward
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Origin of awkward
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, equivalent to awk(e), auk(e) “backhanded,” (unattested) Old English afoc (from Old Norse ǫfugr “turned the wrong way, backwards”; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German abuh “wrong, bad,” Old English afu(h)lic “perverse”) + -ward suffix denoting direction; see origin at off, -ward
OTHER WORDS FROM awkward
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use awkward in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for awkward
awkward
/ (ˈɔːkwəd) /
adjective
Derived forms of awkward
awkwardly, adverbawkwardness, nounWord Origin for awkward
C14 awk, from Old Norse öfugr turned the wrong way round + -ward
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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