Awkwardly

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Awkward \Awk"ward\ ([add]k"we[~e]rd), a. [Awk + -ward.]
     1. Wanting dexterity in the use of the hands, or of
        instruments; not dexterous; without skill; clumsy; wanting
        ease, grace, or effectiveness in movement; ungraceful; as,
        he was awkward at a trick; an awkward boy.
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              And dropped an awkward courtesy.      --Dryden.
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     2. Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.
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              A long and awkward process.           --Macaulay.
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              An awkward affair is one that has gone wrong, and is
              difficult to adjust.                  --C. J. Smith.
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     3. Perverse; adverse; untoward. [Obs.] "Awkward casualties."
        "Awkward wind." --Shak.
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              O blind guides, which being of an awkward religion,
              do strain out a gnat, and swallow up a cancel.
                                                    --Udall.
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     Syn: Ungainly; unhandy; clownish; lubberly; gawky; maladroit;
          bungling; inelegant; ungraceful; unbecoming.
  
     Usage: {Awkward}, {Clumsy}, {Uncouth}. Awkward has a special
            reference to outward deportment. A man is clumsy in
            his whole person, he is awkward in his gait and the
            movement of his limbs. Clumsiness is seen at the first
            view. Awkwardness is discovered only when a person
            begins to move. Hence the expressions, a clumsy
            appearance, and an awkward manner. When we speak
            figuratively of an awkward excuse, we think of a lack
            of ease and grace in making it; when we speak of a
            clumsy excuse, we think of the whole thing as coarse
            and stupid. We apply the term uncouth most frequently
            to that which results from the lack of instruction or
            training; as, uncouth manners; uncouth language.
            [1913 Webster] -- {Awk"ward*ly}
            ([add]k"we[~e]rd*l[y^]), adv. -- {Awk"ward*ness}, n.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  awkwardly
       adv : in an awkward manner; "he bent awkwardly"