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Origin and history of awkward

awkward(adv., adj.)

mid-14c. (adv.), "in the wrong direction," from awk "back-handed" + adverbial suffix -weard (see -ward). The original sense is obsolete. As an adjective, "turned the wrong way," 1510s. The meaning "clumsy, wanting ease and grace in movement" is recorded by 1520s. Of persons, "embarrassed, ill-at-ease," from 1713s. Related: Awkwardly. Other 15c.-17c. formations from awk, none of them surviving, were awky, awkly, awkness.

also from mid-14c.

Entries linking to awkward

awk(adj.)

mid-15c., "turned the wrong way," from Old Norse afugr "turned backwards, wrong, contrary," from Proto-Germanic *afug- (source also of Old Saxon aboh, Old High German apuh, Middle Dutch avesch, Dutch aafsch), from PIE *apu-ko-, from root *apo- "off, away." Obsolete since 17c.

awkwardness(n.)

1704, "lack of grace, inelegance," from awkward + -ness. The meaning "physical clumsiness" is attested from 1770; that of "social embarrassment" by 1788.

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sticky
1727, "adhesive, inclined to stick, having the property of adhering to a surface," from stick (v.) + -y (2). An Old English word for this was clibbor. It is attested by 1864 in the sense of "sentimental." Of weather, "hot and humid," from 1895; of situations, by 1915, "difficult.
clumsy
1590s, "acting or moving as if benumbed," alteration of Middle English clumsid "numb with cold" (14c.), past participle of clumsen, clomsen "to benumb, stiffen or paralyze with cold or fear" (early 14c.), also "become numb or stiff, as with cold" (late 14c.), which is from a Scan
scrape
From 1620s as a type of awkward bow or gesture of obeisance, in which the foot is drawn, or "scraped," backward....The meaning "embarrassing or awkward predicament," usually due to imprudence or thoughtlessness, is by 1709, as OED suggests...
inconvenient
Sense of "troublesome, incommodious, awkward" is recorded from 1650s....
schlemiel
"awkward, clumsy person," 1868, from Yiddish shlemiel "bungler," from main character in German poet Adelbert von Chamisso's...
Episcopalian
The awkward derivative episcopalianism, seems to be used for episcopacy, a good English word, which was quite sufficient...
paint
mid-13c., peinten, "represent (someone or something) in paint;" c. 1300, "decorate (something or someone) with drawings or pictures;" early 14c., "put color or stain on the surface of; coat or cover with a color or colors;" from Old French peintier "to paint," from peint, past pa
ungainly
1610s, "unfit, improper," from Middle English ungeinliche, from ungein (late 14c.) "inconvenient, disagreeable, troublesome," from un- (1) "not" + gein "kind, helpful; reliable; beneficial; suitable, appropriate; convenient," from Old Norse gegn "straight, direct, helpful," from
ill
c. 1200, "morally evil; offensive, objectionable" (other 13c. senses were "malevolent, hurtful, unfortunate, difficult"), from Old Norse illr "evil, bad; hard, difficult; mean, stingy," a word of unknown origin. Not considered to be related to evil. From mid-14c. as "marked by ev

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