Awry

adv. and a. 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, run, step, tread, 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, I. If so succeed hand-practice on awry Preposterous art-mistake.

  C.  ellipt. quasi-vb. 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.