aweless

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English awles, from Old English eġeleas (aweless). By surface analysis, awe +‎ -less.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

aweless (comparative more aweless, superlative most aweless)

  1. Without fear; fearless, unafraid.
  2. Wanting reverence; void of respectful fear; irreverent.
    • [1841?], James Fergusson, “chapter VI”, in A Brief Exposition of the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, London: Thomas Ward and Co., Paternoster-Row, →OCLC, page 257, column 1:
      A proud heart, evidencing itself in a saucy, malapert, aweless, and careless carriage, is most unbeseeming the condition of servants, and highly displeasing to God in them, as being opposite to that property of fear and trembling which ought to accompany their obedience: "Be obedient with fear and trembling."
    • 1848, John Forster, “Book IV. 1767 .. 1774. The Friend of Johnson, Burke, and Reynolds: Dramatist, Novelist, and Poet”, in The Life and Adventures of Oliver Goldsmith. A Biography: In Four Books, London: Bradbury & Evans, 11, Bouverie Street; and Chapman & Hall, 186, Strand, →OCLC, pages 600 and 601:
      What Miss Anna Seward called 'the wit and aweless impoliteness of the stupendous creature' [Samuel Johnson] bore down every one before it. [] And Dean Barnard, invoking the aid of his friends against the aweless impoliteness, and submitting himself to be taught by their better accomplishments, has told us in lively verse with what good humour it was borne by [Joshua] Reynolds.
    • 2010, Iva-Marija Znaor, “Number Thirteen”, in The Sea of Bitterness: Amulet, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 33:
      She wasn't the woman for me, she wasn't my happiness, she was my misfortune. I wonder if I was too brutal and aweless. Have I right to call the mother of my children my misfortune?
  3. (obsolete) Inspiring no awe.

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