A. adv.A. adv.
1. 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.
B. adj.
1. Turned the wrong way, averted, back-handed; not straightforward, oblique. Obs.
2. Froward, untoward, perverse, in conduct. (Passing into ‘cross-grained, cantankerous, disagreeable in behaviour,’ and so into 7b.) Obs.
3. Untoward, unfavourable, adverse to one's course. lit. and fig. Obs.
4. a. Of things: Untoward or unfavourable for one's purpose; ill-adapted for use; clumsy in operation. b. Of persons: Lacking dexterity or skill in performing their part; clumsy in action, bungling. Phr. awkward squad: see SQUAD n.1 1b.
5. Ungraceful, ungainly in action or form; uncouth: a. of things, action, speech, etc.
b. of persons.
6. a. Of things: Embarrassing, inconvenient. b. Of persons: Not at one's ease; embarrassed.
7. a. Of things: Not easy to deal with; requiring cautious action; euphemistic for ‘rather dangerous.’ b. Of persons: Dangerous to meddle with. c. Phr. the awkward age: the time of life when one is no longer a child and yet not properly grown up. (Cf. F. l' âge ingrat.)
(See quots.)
1799-1863 Trans. Highl. Soc. III. 447 (Jam.) Sheep are most apt to die awald, when it grows warm after a shower. 1854 N. & Q. Ser. I. IX. 209/1 When fat sheep roll over on their backs and cannot get up of themselves they are said to be lying awkward, in some places awalt, and in others awart. 1863 MORTON Cycl. Agric. II. 720 Awelled (Dumfriessh.), a sheep..lying helplessly on its back.
1. Mil. a. A small number of men, a subdivision or section of a company, formed for drill or told off for some special purpose. b. awkward squad : (see quot. 1802).
1802 JAMES Milit. Dict. s.v., The aukward squad consists not only of recruits at drill, but of formed soldiers that are ordered to exercise with them, in consequence of some irregularity under arms.
"awkward" The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989
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