awry, adv. and a.
(əˈraɪ)
Forms: 4 on wry, 5 on wrye, 5–6 a wrye, awrye, 5–7 a wry, 6 a wrie, awri, 6–7 awrie, 5– awry.
[f. a prep.1 + wry; cf. aright, awrong.]
A. adv.
1. Away from the straight (position or direction); to one side, obliquely; unevenly, crookedly, askew.
| c 1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 705 As thair bemys strekit air Owthir all evin, or on wry. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xiv. 50 The stones of the walles appyeren alle awry sette. 1590 Pasquil's Apol. i. D b, The case standing as it dooth I cannot but draw my mouth awrie. 1607 Dekker Westw. Hoe Wks. 1873 II. 294 They say Charing-crosse is falne downe..but thats no such wonder, twas old, and stood awry. 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet. xi. 115 Lest..some crum (as we use to say) should go awry. 1714 Pope Rape Lock iv. 8 Not Cynthia when her manteau's pinned awry, E'er felt such rage. 1838 Marryat Jac. Faithf. ii. 9, I held my spoon awry, and soiled my clothes. |
b. to look awry: to look askance or asquint. (Cf. the senses under these words.)
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 291 Envy..ne looked but awrie. 1573 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (1884) 5, I passing bi him..he hath lookd awri an other wai. 1609 Rowlands Crew of Gossips 6 When he speakes..I'll hold my peace, and (frowning) looke awry. 1709 Chandler Effort agst. Bigotry 28 When a Church-man therefore shall in scornful Pride look awry upon..a Dissenter. 1845 Darwin Voy. Nat. x. (1852) 206 Some of our party began to squint and look awry. |
2. fig. Out of the right course or place; in a wrong manner; improperly, erroneously, amiss.
| 1494 Fabyan 2 To me it semyth so ferre sette a wrye In tyme of yeres. 1671 Milton P.R. iv. 313 Much of the Soul they talk, but all awrie. 1850 Mrs. Browning Aur. Leigh iii. 543 Those who think Awry, will scarce act straightly. |
b. esp. in phr. to go awry, run awry, step awry, tread awry, walk awry: (of persons) to fall into error, do wrong; (of things) to turn out badly or untowardly, ‘go wrong.’
| 1524 State Papers Hen. VIII, I. 152 To wryng and wreste the maters in to bettre trayne, if they walke a wrye. 1570 B. Googe Pop. Kingd. iv. (1880) 56 b, The very Spouse and Church of Christ, that cannot runne awry. a 1625 Boys in Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. xv. 2 Aristides was so just..that he would not tread awry. 1745 De Foe Eng. Tradesm. I. ix. 65 If a tradesman but once ventures to step awry. 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. (1865) I. ii. xi. 116 Far worse, the marriage itself went awry. |
c. to tread the shoe awry: to fall from virtue, break the law of chastity. Cf. F. faux pas.
| 1520–41 Wyatt Poet. Wks. (1861) 96 Farewell all my welfare! My shoe is trod awry. 1600 Heywood 2nd Edw. IV, Wks. 1874 I. 143 King Edward's children not legitimate..Their mother hapt to tread the shoe awry. 1662 Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 130 He would not stick to tell where he trod his holy sandals awry. |
B. adj. (usually pred., rarely attrib. Cf. wry.)
1. Out of the right course or position; displaced, disordered, disarranged; crooked, distorted.
| 1658 W. Burton Itin. Anton. 178 The journey will prove enormiously awry. 1728 Young Love Fame vi. (1757) 149 What pity 'tis her shoulder is awry! 1847 Barham Ingol. Leg. (1877) 172 His features and phiz awry Show'd so much misery. 1883 Daily News 9 Nov. 2/1 Blinds..very different from the awry, dingy, imitation Venetians of his neighbour. |
2. fig. Turned from the right course, wide of the mark, perverted, wrong. awry from: opposed to.
| 1581 Sidney Astr. & Stella xxvii, With dearth of words, or answers quite awrie. 1670 Milton Hist. Eng. i. Wks. (1851) 23 Nothing more awry from the Law of God..then that a Woman should give Laws to Men. 1872 Browning Fifine 1, If so succeed hand-practice on awry Preposterous art-mistake. |
C. ellipt. quasi-v. To turn awry or aside.
| 1613 R. C. Table Alph., Swarue, awry, erre. 1653 Brome Mad Couple iii. i, High heeld shooes, that will awry sometimes with any Women. |