Askew

adv., a. (sb.) 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.]

  1.  Obliquely, to one side, off the straight, awry. Also fig. cross, untowardly, frowardly, unfavorably.

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.  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., March, 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. 1797.  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.  sb. 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.