awkward

Etymology

From awk (“odd, clumsy”) + -ward.

adv

1. (obsolete) In a backwards direction.
   Than groned the knyght for his grymme woundis, and gyrdis to Sir Gawayne and awkewarde hym strykes, and […] kut thorow a vayne […].

adj

1. Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments.
   John was awkward at performing the trick. He'll have to practice to improve.
2. Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.
   That was an extremely awkward moment. Everyone was watching.
   An awkward silence had fallen.
3. Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction.
   I'm very awkward at parties.
   Things get very awkward whenever 60-year old men use cheesy pick-up lines on me.
4. Perverse; adverse; difficult to handle.
   He's a right awkward chap.
   These cabinets are going to be very awkward when we move.
   Clearing up rock and fallen vegetation at such an awkward site required a team of specialist geoengineers. August 26 2020, Andrew Mourant, “Reinforced against future flooding”, in Rail, page 61

noun

1. Someone or something that is awkward.
   Another important branch of deportment was to seat the awkwards stiffly on the extreme edge of a chair, fold the hands on the very precarious lap, droop the eyes in a pensive way. 1912, Eliza Ripley, Social Life in Old New Orleans, Being Recollections of My Girlhood, New York, N.Y., London: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC
   'What periods are you talking about?' / 'The monthly awkwards. Didn't the girls at Molyneux have them when you were managing director?' / The Rabbit leaned forward, sniffing the air in the immediate vicinity. 'Either you've been drinking or you've got some girl into trouble. Or am I being unfair to you and it's both?' 1998, Leo Marks, Between Silk and Cyanide: The Story of SOE's Code War, London: HarperCollins
   That is a way to make awkwards. And it's not fun to hang out with awkwards more than once. 2014, Grace Helbig, Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to Be a Grown-up, New York, N.Y.: Touchstone Books, Simon & Schuster, page 76