awkward
awk-ward / ôk-wÉrd
adjective 1. lacking physical coordination or skill; clumsy The awkward person always breaks the board in riding on the surf. Hawaiian Proverb 2. not graceful when moving I didnât grow up in the dance world, I didnât grow up having dance lessons, so everything looks a little awkward and sometimes I get very publicly shamed for my awkwardness. Katy Perry, 1984 - 3. difficult to handle; hard to use Without handles it was awkward to carry; we had to bear it on our shoulders. From âCarry Meâ by Peter Behrens, ? - 4. embarrassing Everyone has a childhood, everyone had awkward years and weird stages. Tina Yothers, 1973 â 5. feeling ill at ease; uncomfortable You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new. Brian Tracy, 1944 â 6. not easily handled, requiring skill, judgement and consideration Order is never observed; it is disorder which attracts attention because it is awkward and intrusive. Eliphas Levi, 1810 â 1875 7. difficult; hazardous But do you find the grade awkward when she's steaming properly? From "Brandon of the Engineers" by Harold Bindloss, 1866 - 1945 8. inconvenient The deeply-religious McKeon goes to Mass every day, and he wasn't going to skip because the team arrived at an awkward hour. Joe Frisaro, "Notes: Fish welcomed break", http://www.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2003/console/g6/news_story_4.jsp etymology From the Old Norse adjective ofugr (turning the wrong way) plus the English suffix -ward (in the direction of). Thank you to Allen Ward for providing this etymology.