awkwards

English

Etymology

From awkward +‎ -s. The adjective is formed on the analogy of adverbs and prepositions such as towards, forwards etc.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɔːkwədz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɔkwɚdz/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈɑkwɚdz/

Noun

awkwards

1. plural of awkward.

Adjective

awkwards (comparative more awkwards, superlative most awkwards)

1. (rare) awkward, embarrassing, difficult.
   • 1877, Edward Williams Johns, The Silver Wedding: A Romaunt Du Moyen Âge‎^[1], page 190:

     This : " let her own works praise her in the gates" - / Where (being fifty three — these awkwards dates !)

   • 1930, Sir Reginald Rankin, A tour in the Himalayas and beyond‎^[2], page 108:

     We had some awkwards bits to get over to-day. The path at best is a track not two feet wide on the mountain side, and there is no escape from the constantly recurring moraines, with their sharp deep sides eaten away by sub- niveal streams

   • 1980, Charles Parrott, Access to historic buildings for the disabled: suggestions for planning and implementation‎^[3], page 32:

     In the two solutions shown above (a and b) , the first is awkwards, needing a ramp and handrails extending out from the building. In the second, a simple ramp cut into the first stair resulted in a successful solution, which achieved accessibility with minimal impact to the character of the building.

Related terms

• awkward