adv. and a. Forms: 4 awkeward, 4–5 aykeward, owkeward, 4–6 awkwarde, 6 awkwar, ackward, acquart, aukerward, 6–7 aukeward(e, 7 auker’d, awkerd, 7–8 awkard, 8 aukard, 6–9 aukward, 6– awkward; 9 dial. awkwart, ackart, etc. [f. AWK a. + -WARD, i.e., ‘in an awk direction’; cf. forward, backward. Like other adverbs in -ward, at length also used adjectively, cf. to go forward, a forward motion, a forward youth.]
† A. adv. In the wrong direction, in the wrong way. a. Upside down; hindside foremost. b. In a backward direction, with a back stroke. c. Asquint. d. In some modern dialects = AWALT, q.v. Obs. or dial.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 1541. Þe world þai all awkeward sett.
c. 1440. Morte Arth., 2247. The emperour thane egerly at Arthure he strykez, Awkwarde on þe umbrere.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, I. 407. With the swerd awkwart he him gawe Wndyr the hat.
1530. Palsgr., 691/2. I feare me some house be afyre … for they rynge aukewarde.
1589. Nashe, Almond for P., 14 a. Eternitie, that knew how aukward he shoulde looke to all honesty, consulted … to make him squint-eied.
B. adj.
† 1. Turned the wrong way, averted, back-handed; not straightforward, oblique. Obs.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IV. vii. 2. Dido agreuit ay … With acquart luik gan towart him behald.
1532. Dice Play, 22. Who so hath not some aukerward way to help himself, but foloweth his nose … always straight forward.
1866. Cumbrld. Border Bal., 468. Till Græme gae Bewick an ackward stroke.
† 2. Froward, untoward, perverse, in conduct. (Passing into ‘cross-grained, cantankerous, disagreeable in behavior,’ and so into 7 b.) Obs.
1530. Palsgr., 305/2. Awkwarde, frowarde, peruers.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. xxiii. 24. Blynde guydes … of an awkwarde religion doe streigne out a gnatte, and swalowe of a camell.
1634. Preston, New Covt., 310. The heart … is awkward and froward and contentious.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. iii. 619. But was implacable and auker’d To all that Interlop’d and Hawker’d.
1743. Fielding, J. Wild, I. v. (1762), 244. I haue an aukward pride in my nature.
1755. B. Martin, Mag. Arts & Sc., 61. They had such aukward Notions of Things.
† 3. Untoward, unfavorable, adverse to one’s course. lit. and fig. Obs.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1555/1. The ackward and frowning hap of sundrie woorthie gentlemen.
1590. Marlowe, Edw. II., IV. vi. With awkward winds and with sore tempests driven.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 83. Twice by aukward winde from Englands banke Droue backe againe.
1663. Flagellum or O. Cromwell (1672), 18. Which aukward beginning of their Labour sorted with a very sorry Issue.
4. Of things: Untoward or unfavorable for one’s purpose; ill-adapted for use; clumsy in operation.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, I. (1723), 60. The Methods they used of Agriculture … were so aukward and tedious.
1743. trans. Heister’s Surg., 452. Perform good Cures, though in an aukward manner.
1783. Potts, Chirurg., II. 7. A multitude of awkward unmanageable instruments.
1857. Ruskin, Pol. Econ. Art, 19. Awkward and unfortunate efforts … at the development of a social system.
b. Of persons: Lacking dexterity or skill in performing their part; clumsy in action, bungling.
1530. Palsgr., 305/2. Awkwar leftehanded, gauche.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 270. They were as unexpert as their Souldiers aukward.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, III. ii. 189. I have not seen a more clumsy, aukward, and unhandy people.
1816. J. Gilchrist, Philos. Etym., 204. They consider him as belonging to the awkward squad.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xii. (1878), 241. What a blundering awkward fellow I was to startle you as I did.
5. Ungraceful, ungainly in action or form; uncouth: a. of things, action, speech, etc.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. iii. 149. With ridiculous and aukward action … He Pageants vs.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 299, ¶ 2. That they may not learn any of my aukward Tricks.
1718. Pope, Iliad, I. 770. Vulcan with aukward grace his office plies.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., vii. 314. A variety of awkward gambols.
b. Of persons.
1665. Pepys, Diary, 15 July. The most awkerd man I ever met with in my life.
1678. T. Rymer, in Shaks. C. Praise, 366. Awkward and unsightly, as the monster in the Tempest.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., I. i. The son an aukward booby.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes, i. (1858), 199. Large awkward gianthood.
6. Of things: Embarrassing, inconvenient.
1709. Swift, Adv. Relig., Wks. 1755, II. I. 108. If an awkward shame … have not a greater share in this mistaken conduct.
1779. J. Moore, View Soc. Fr., II. 182. Both seem rather in an aukward situation.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xvii. 58. The two Minsters of Winchester Old and New stood in awkward neighbourhood to each other.
b. Of persons: Not at one’s ease; embarrassed.
1713. Steele, Englishm., No. 44. 288. I am very aukward in the Endeavour.
1834. L. Hunt, Town, iii. (1848), 146. He was … beginning to feel awkward with his Whig friends.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil (1863), 138. It is civilization that makes us awkward; for it gives us an uncertain position.
7. Of things: Not easy to deal with; requiring cautious action; euphemistic for ‘rather dangerous.’
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 16. 118. We let ourselves down an awkward face of rock.
1872. Jenkinson, Guide Eng. Lakes (1879), 195. The ridge is rather awkward-looking.
1881. Blackmore, Christowell, xi. ‘Be careful, if you please, there is an awkward step here.’
b. Of persons: Dangerous to meddle with.
1863. Mrs. C. Clarke, Shaks. Char., vi. 144. He is an ‘awkward customer’ when his confidence is betrayed.
