awe

views updated May 29 2018

awe / ô/ • n. a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder: they gazed in awe at the small mountain of diamonds. ∎ archaic capacity to inspire awe: is it any wonder that Christmas Eve has lost its awe?• v. [tr.] (usu. be awed) inspire with awe: they were both awed by the vastness of the forest | [as adj.] (awed) he spoke in a hushed, awed whisper.

awe

views updated May 17 2018

awe XIII. ME. aʒe — ON. agi :- *aʒan-, f. Gmc. *aʒ-, repr. by Goth. agis fear. The Scand. word displaced the native eie, eʒe, OE. eġe (:- *aʒiz).
Hence awe vb. XIV. awestruck XVII. awful XIII, awfully XIV.

AWE

views updated Jun 27 2018

AWE Atomic Weapons Establishment

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