unwieldy

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˌʌnˈwɪəl.di/, SAMPA: /%Vn"wI@l.di/

• Audio (US)

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Etymology

A late Middle English coinage, first known instance c. 1386, from un- (“not”) + *wieldy, from Old English wielde (“active, vigorous”).

Adjective

unwieldy (comparative unwieldier, superlative unwieldiest)

1. (obsolete) lacking strength; weak
2. (obsolete) ungraceful in movement
3. difficult to carry, manage or operate because of its size, weight or shape or complexity
4. badly managed or operated

Derived terms

• wieldy

Translations

difficult to carry, manage or operate

Catalan: farragós (ca) m. Dutch: log (nl) Esperanto: grandaĉa (eo) French: encombrant (fr)

Norwegian: tungvinn (no) Bokmål: uhåndterlig (no) Nynorsk: uhandterleg (nn), uhandterlig (nn), ulagleg (nn)

References

• “unwieldy” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001