askew, adv., a., (n.)
(əˈskjuː)
Forms: 6–7 askewe, 6 a-skiew, a scew, ascue, 7–8 askue.
[Etymology uncertain; see the simple skew v. or a., upon which this may have been formed with a prep.1 Its relation to askoye, which preceded it somewhat in the same sense, is uncertain. It corresponds also in sense to ON. á ská, and in form to Da. skjæv:—ON. skeif oblique, wry, skew, Ger. schief, LG. scheew, Du. scheef. Neither askew nor skew appears before 16th c. See note to askance.]
A. adv.
1. Obliquely, to one side, off the straight, awry. Also fig. cross, untowardly, frowardly, unfavourably.
| 1573 Twyne Cont. Phaër's æneid xii. KK iv b, To dread that lucke shall light ascue. 1587 Golding De Mornay, The Zodiacke goes a-skiew. 1655 W. Gurnall Chr. in Armour i. 112 The Serpent goes a skue..winding and wreathing its body. 1695 Blackmore Pr. Arth. i. 266 And wrench'd the Poles some Leagues yet more askew. 1855 Dickens Lit. Dorrit (C.D. ed.) 309 Lattice-blinds all hanging askew. |
2. esp. in phr. to look askew: i.e. sidelong, out at the corners of one's eyes, not straight in the face.
| 1579 E. K. in Spenser's Sheph. Cal. Mar. Gloss., Ascaunce, askewe or asquint. 1599 B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. v. 1 Let her fleer, and look a scew, and hide her Teeth with her Fan. a 1791 Wesley Wks. (1830) XIII. 486 Your looks (in speaking) should be direct, neither severe nor askew. 1821 Scott Kenilw. x, The boy looking askew at him with his sharp gray eyes. |
b. fig. To look as if pretending not to see, to look with contempt or disdain; to reflect upon.
| 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 426 He beganne to look askew vppon Camilla. 1636 Heywood Challenge ii. i. Wks. 1874 V. 22 All I meete..look askue, and point, and laugh at mee. 1661 Pepys Diary I. 25 Aug., My Lady Button and her daughter to look something askew upon my wife, because my wife..is not solicitous for their acquaintance. 1721 Strype Eccl. Mem. I. xxiii. 167 For some expressions..that looked askew upon the King's supremacy..he was laid in hold. 1840 Barham Ingol. Leg. 396 But Nelly Cook askew did look. |
B. adj. Oblique, made or standing awry; skew.
| [1570 Levins Manip. 95 A Skewe, limus.] 1859 Turner Dom. Archit. III. iv. 162 A room over the street, which rests on an askew arch. 1862 Smiles Engineers III 233 Bridges of masonry..several of them askew bridges. 1871 Darwin Desc. Man II. xv. 165 In time the tail becomes quite askew. |
† C. n. A sidelong glance. Obs.
| 1655 Heywood Fort. by Land, &c. ii. i. Wks. 1874 VI. 383 Her face, the trick of her eye, her leer, her blink, her askue. |