awkwardness 
awkwardness (ak'wjird-nes), . The state or 
quality of being awkward, (a) Clumsiness; un- 
wk'tilinesM ; unsuitable ess : as, the (tirkit'tirdnciiit 
or of a pi in MI opcratio 
account of its size oral 
in action. (<) l.ark i 
(/) An awkward circiin 
ii a tool, 
is; UMawfcmnfeuMafl bund Icon 
ape. (h) liek of skill or dexterity 
i MM in action ; niunceiQlMM. 
stance or feeling ; embarrassment ; 
l.awl; , Sewing- 
awl. 
Mli|ilt iisailtlless ; ineollveNU'Mcr. 
awl (al), . [Early mod. K. also aul, all, and by 
misdivision ( mnrl for tin aid) iiairl, until, nail, 
ME. nal. The earlier forms are of four types : 
(1) ME. null-, nniii; mil, < AS. mrel, nirii'l : (LM 
ME. otile, mill, inn I, innil, < AS. awel, uiful ; (!) 
ME. cl, clc, < AS. HI; (4) ME. alle, al, < AS. 
al, cal = OLG. u< ( = <>HG. ala, MHG. ale, G. 
ulilr = Icel. air, an awl; with added formative, 
OHG. alaii.in, nlinisn, *<ilnsna (> ML. alesna, > 
It. tesiiia = Sp. Icsnti, alrsna = Pr. alena = OF. 
nli'nm; F. nli'ne) = OD. aelscne, elsene (mod. I). 
<M, > Sc. i-l.tiii, rlxnti, Shetland alinon, an awl. 
Of. Skt. ara, an awl.] 1. 
A pointed instniiiicnt for 
piercing small holes in 
leather, wood, etc., as the 
bent-pointed tticl of the 
shoemaker and saddler and 
the straight-pointed lirinl- 
awl of the joiner. 2. The 
popinjay or green woodpecker, 1'icus or Gecinus 
ririili.t. [Local, British.] 
awl-bird (al'berd), n. SameasawJ, 2. Montagu. 
awl-clip (al'klip), n. A device for holding 
blanks, memoranda, etc., consisting of an awl 
or pin fixed to a stand. The papers to be kept 
on file are thrust upon the pin. 
awless, . See aweless. 
awl-shaped (al'shapt), a. 1. Having the shape 
of an awl. 2. In hot., slender and tapering 
toward the extremity from a broadish base, as 
a leaf; subulate. 
awl-tree (al'tre), n. [< awl, repr. Hind, al (see 
al 1 , al-root), + tree.] Same as al 1 . 
awlwort (al'wert), n. The popular name of the 
Subularia aquatica: so called from its awl- 
shaped leaves (Latin subula, an awl), it is a very 
small stemless aquatic plant, natural order Cruciferte, 
found in Europe, Siberia, and North America. 
awm (am), n. Same as aam. 
awmbryt (am'bri), n. Same as ambry. 
awmous (a'mus), n. A Scotch form of alms. 
awn 1 (an), n. [E. dial, also ang ; < ME. awnc, 
aune, awenc, earlier agun, < AS. "agun (not re- 
corded; the ME. may be from the Scand.) = 
OHG. agana, MHG. agent, agne, ane, G. nlnn 
(also agen), awn, = Icel. ogn, pi. agnar, = Sw. 
agn, only in pi. agnar, = Dan. avne = Goth. 
ahana, chaff, = Gr. &xyri, Doric axya, chaff; cf. 
(with diff. formative) Gr. a^vpov, chaff, L. acus 
(acer-), chaff, and AS. egl, E. at? 2 , awn, and AS. 
ear (contr. of *ahur = ONorth. ehcr, aihher), E. 
ear 2 (of corn) (see aiP, avel, acerose, and ear 2 ) ; 
ult. < *ak, be sharp. But it is possible that 
two orig. different words, meaning 'awn' and 
'chaff' respectively, have hero run together.] 
In bot., a bristle-shaped terminal or dorsal ap- 
pendage, such as the beard of wheat, barley, 
and many grasses. 
awn 2 , a. and v. An obsolete or dialectal form 
of own. 
awned (and), a. [< awn 1 + -erf 2 .] Having awns : 
applied to leaves, leaf -stalks, etc., bearing a 
long rigid spine, as in barley, ete. 
awner (a'ner), n. A machine for removing the 
avels or awns from grain; an aveler; a hum- 
meler. See Itummeling-maehine. 
awning (a'ning), . [First recorded in the 17th 
century, in uaut. use ; of undetermined origin, 
but appar. (with suffix -in// 2 ) < *awn, prob. a 
naut. reduction of F. auvent, "a penthouse of 
cloth before a shop-window" (Cotgrave), OF. 
auvant, ML. auranna (also spelled auventus, 
appar. in simulation of L. ventvs, wind), of 
unknown origin.] A movable roof-like cover- 
ing of canvas or other cloth spread over any 
place, or in front of a window, door, etc., as 
a protection from the sun's rays. 
A court 
Compact with lucid marbles, boss'd with lengths 
Of classic frieze, with ample avndnijs gay. 
Tennyton, Princess, ii. 
It was very hot, and sitting under the awning turned 
out to be the pleasantest occupation. 
Lady Rranufy, Voyage of Sunbeam, i. 1. 
See backbone. To house 
With- 
Backbone of an awning. 
awnings. Set- fmuxi; r. 
awnless (an'les), a. [< awn 1 + -less.] 
out awns or beard. 
awny (a'ni), n. [< rticx 1 + -y 1 .] Havingawns; 
bearded; bristly. 
401 
awoke (a- wok'). 1'reterit and past participle 
of atraki; 
aworkt (a-werk'), prep, phr. an mli: [< ME. 
MMftv; <f o ;i + u-ork.] At work; in a state of 
labor or action. 
Twurc a good mirth now to set him a-mtrk 
To make IIIT wedding-ring. 
MilMtflun, Chasti- Maid, L 1. 
The bad will have but small matter whereon to -t tlu-ir 
mischiufe a mirk. Miltuu, Ajiology for Smectymniius. 
a working (a-wer'king), prep. phr. as adv. [< * 
+ working."] At work; in or into a state of 
working or action. 
Never met 
Adventure which might them a working set. 
.S>-iwr, Mother Hub. Tale, 1. 224. 
awreakt, c. t. [< ME. atcrcken, < AS. dtt-recan, 
< a- + wrccan, wreak: see n- 1 and wreak.] To 
wreak ; take vengeance on ; avenge. 
Me were lever than al this toun 
Of this tlispit awoken for to be. 
Chaucer, Miller's Tale, 1. 566. 
awrongt (a-rdng'), prep. jihr. as adv. [< a 3 + 
irrnng. Cf. aright, a much older word.] In a 
wrong manner; wrongly. 
If I aim ,i 
Awrong, 'twas in an envy of thy goodness. 
Pnnl, Lady's Trial, HI. 3. 
awry (a-ri'), prep. phr. as adv. or a. [< ME. 
uicry, awrye, on wry ; < 3 -f- wry.] 1. Turned 
or twisted toward one side ; not in a straight 
or true direction or position; asquint: as, to 
glance or look awry,- the lady's cap is awry. 
If she steps, looks, or moves aipry. Spectator, No. 66. 
2. Figuratively, away from the line of truth 
or right reason ; perverse or perversely. 
Much of the soul they talk, but all HUTU. 
Milton, P. R., iv. 313. 
The prince's counsels all awry do go. 
Sir J. Davi&i, Immortal, of Soul, xxxii. 
To go (run, step, tread, walk) awry. (<) of persons : 
To fall into error; do wrong, (ft) Of things : To turn out 
badly or untowardly ; go wrong. 
awsk (ask), n. A dialectal form of ogfc 2 . 
awsome, a. See awesome. 
ax 1 , axe 1 (aks), n. [The reg. mod. spelling is 
ax, < ME. OJT, also axe, ex, tex, < AS. tex, also 
eax, = ONorth. acasa, acase = OS. accus = OD. 
akes, D. aks, aakse, aaks, = OHG. acchits, achus, 
MHG. acfces, axt, G. ax, axt = Icel. ox, oxi = 
Sw. yxa = Dan. oxe = L. ascia, ax, mattock, 
akin to Gr. afiw?, ax.] An instrument used 
for hewing timber and chopping wood, and also 
axil 
oxa, ax ; from the noun.] To shape or trim 
with an ax. 
ax 2 t, axe'-r (aks), n. [< ME. ui, me (in comp.), 
ff, cic, also as, < AS. eax, cex = OD. s*e, D. as 
= OHG. aksa, MHG. ahse, G. achse = Dan. IIJTI- 
= L. axis = Gr. auv = OBulg. osi, Uulg. Kcrv. 
os = Pol. os = Buss, ost = Lith. axziit = Skt. 
iikxhti, axis, axle. Hence axle, q. v.] An axle ; 
an axis, 
ax", axe :i (ak), . t. Obsolete or dialectal forms 
of ask 1 . 
For I wol nit. if it hir willc be 
To be my wyf. Chaucrr. 
axal (ak'sal), a. Same as ajcial. 
axe 1 , . aiid r. See ax 1 . 
axe 2 t, . See x 2 . 
axe 3 , t'. See ax 3 . 
axe 1 (aks), n. An English name of a native 
species of lobelia, L. ureas. 
axed (akst), a. [< as 1 + -i?.] In masonry, 
dressed with a stone hammer to a smooth sur- 
face. 
Good effect is obtained by the contrast of HJ-I and pol- 
ihc-cl surfaces. Kncye. Brit., IV. 474. 
axes, n. Plural of ax and of axis. 
axfitcht, . [A' 8 written axvitch, axfetfh ; < 
ax 1 -f- Jitch. This and the other names axsecd, 
axwort, hatchet-fitch, and NL. Securigera, refer 
to the ax-shaped seed.] A leguminous plant, 
Securigera coronilla. Cotgrave, 
ax-form (aks'form), a. Same as ax-shaped. 
ax-head (aks'hed), . The head or iron of an 
ax. Ancient ax-heads, formed of stone and 
sometimes of bronze, are called celts. 
axial (ak'si-al), a. [< axis + -al.] 1. Pertain- 
ing to or of the nature of an axis. 
From central development we pass insensibly to that 
higher kind of development for which axial seems the 
most appropriate name. //. Spencer, Prin. of Biol., { 50. 
2. Situated in an axis or in the axis. 3. In 
anat., pertaining to the somatic as distinguished 
from the membral portions of the body; not 
appendicular. Axial parts or organs arc, in general, 
divided into epaxlal, hypaxial, and i>artisiiil, according 
as they are situated over, under, or alongside the spinal 
column. 
4. In geol., forming the axis, central domi- 
nating portion, or crest of a mountain-range. 
, Broad-ax, Tor hewing ; K, Ax for chopping. 
as a weapon of offense. The modern ax consists 
of a head of iron, with an arching edge of steel, and a 
helve or handle. The edge is in the plane of the sweep of 
the tool, thus ditfering 
from the adz, in which 
the edge is at right angles 
to the plane of the sweep. 
As a weapon, the ax was 
in very common use from 
the earliest times until 
the general adoption of 
firearms. It was used by 
the Egyptians. By the 
Greeks it was looked 
upon as a weapon of their 
own ancestors and of the 
Asiatic nations, and so 
figured in works of Greek 
art. The northern na- 
tions who overthrew the 
Roman empire used 
many varieties of this 
weapon, and Its use pre- 
vailed throughout the 
middle ages in Europe. 
A light ax was common 
among the Arabs and Moors. Axes of various kinds of 
stone, or entirely of copper or bronze, are found among 
prehistoric and ancient remains, and In use by barbarous 
races. See celt'*. An ax to grind (in allusion to a story 
told by Franklin), some private purpose to subserve, or 
selfish end to attain. Bullhead ax, a pole-ax with a 
small hammer-head at the back, used in slaughter-houses. 
Sacred ax, a name given by col- 
lectors of Chinese porcelain to an em- 
blem or mark supposed to resemble 
an ax, and found either alone or as 
forming part of the decoration of cer- 
tain pieces said to be assigned to war- 
riors. To put the ax In the helve, 
to solve a doubt ; find out a puzzle. 
ax 1 , axe 1 (aks), r. t.; pret. and 
of jaileite from New Ireland. 
Sacred Ax.- 
, , . . . . 
pp. axed, ppr. axing. [= Icel. Sn" chu>ese *"- 
Section of mountain showing anticlinal structure with axial mass 
of eruptive or metamorphic rock. 
The central or axial portions of many mountain-ranges 
consist of crystalline, azoic, or archiran rocks ; this is espe- 
cially true of the numerous ranges of the North American 
Cordilleras. 
Sometimes axal. 
Axial canal, in crinoids, the central canal within the 
hard perisoma of the stem, extending the length of the 
latter and filled with a soft solid substance. Axial cav- 
ity, in Actinozoa, the cavity common to the gastric sac 
ana intermesenteric chambers. See Actinozoa. Axial 
circle, a circle having its center on the axis of a curve. 
Axial line, the name given by Faraday to the line in 
which the magnetic force passes from one pole of a horse- 
shoe magnet to the other. Axial plane, in crystal., a 
plane containing (1) two of the crystallographic axes, or 
(2) the optic axes in the case of a biaxial crystal. Axial 
rotation, rotation upon an axis. Axial skeleton, the 
skeleton of the trunk and head and tail, as distinct from 
the skeleton of the limbs. 
axially (ak'si-al-i), adv. In a line with or in 
the direction of the axis ; with reference to the 
axis. 
There are many Transparent Objects, however, whose 
peculiar features can only be made out when they are 
viewed by light transmitted through them obliquely in- 
stead of axially. W. B. Carpenter, Micros., 14f>. 
axiferous (ak-sif'e-rus), a. [< L. axis, axis, + 
ferre = E. bear 1 '.'] In bot., consisting of an 
axis only, without leaves or other appendages : 
applied by Turpin to fungi and algie, consid- 
ered as consisting essentially of an axis merely. 
axiform (ak'si-form), a. [< L. axis, axis, + 
forma, shape.] In the form of an axis. 
axifugal (ak-sif'u-gal), a. [< L. axis, axis, + 
fuqcre, flee, + -at.] Centrifugal. [Bare.] 
axil (ak'sil), n. [< L. axilla, dim. (cf. ala for 
"axla, dim. ) of axis, axis, armpit : see ala, aisle, 
axis 1 , andorfe.] 1. Thearm- 
pit, or axilla (which see). 
[Rare.] 2. In bot., the an- 
gle formed between the up- 
per side of a leaf and the 
stem or branch to which it 
is attached ; in cryptogams, 
the angle formed by the 
branching of a frond. 
1 , 
