awkwardlyadv.
In an awkward manner.† 1. Wrongly, perversely. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > [adverb] > in the wrong way or into error
unrightOE
willa1300
astray1535
awkwardlyc1540
byway1549
seducedly1642
deviously1842
wrongways1922
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy x. 4379 At attens all folke aykewardly worshippid Minerva, a maument.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy xix. 8139 Sum fend..Þat onsward the owkewardly.
2. Without dexterity in action; with ill adaptation to a purpose; in a bungling or clumsy way; without ease of manner, inelegantly, ungracefully.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adverb] > clumsily or awkwardly
unhagherlyc1175
unslyly?a1400
roughc1400
unslya1425
rudelyc1425
unhandsomely1545
grosslyc1550
untowardly?1550
botcherly?1566
bungerly1574
lubberlike1575
lumpishly1583
clouterly1593
lubberly1594
foggily1599
awkly1603
unwieldilyc1610
cumbersomely1611
uneasily1611
sinisterly1628
left-handedly1648
ungainlya1661
awkwardly1663
clumsily1691
uncleverly1697
wrong1727
unwieldly1793
gawkily1811
maladroitly1827
undexterously1848
flat-footedly1886
ham-fistedly1964
ham-handedly1964
the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > inelegance > [adverb] > ungracefully
ungainlya1661
ungracefully1661
awkwardly1663
disgraciatelya1734
gracelessly1846
1663 A. Cowley Ess. in Verse & Prose (1669) 85 Who stands not aukwardly in his own light.
1697 K. Chetwood Pref. to Pastorals in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. ****2v And handle their Sheep-Hook as awkardly, as they do their Oaten-Reed.
1704 London Gaz. No. 4064/6 Envy and Malice..awkerdly acknowledge what they cannot deny.
1816 in Macready's Remin. I. 129 The plainest and most awkwardly-made man.
1870 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 2) I. App. 756 The mention of Godwine comes in very awkwardly.
3. Embarrassingly, inconveniently; dangerously.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adverb] > awkwardly
ungainfullyc1320
awkwardly1674
embarrassedly1799
difficultly1815
embarrassingly1817
1674 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd ii. 359 Twould go very hard and aukwardly with you.
1812 L. Hunt in Examiner 28 Sept. 610/1 I am aukwardly situated.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adv.c1540