awe

[ aw ]
/ ɔ /

noun

an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God; in awe of great political figures.
Archaic. power to inspire fear or reverence.
Obsolete. fear or dread.

verb (used with object), awed, aw·ing.

to inspire with awe.
to influence or restrain by awe.

Origin of awe

1250–1300; Middle English aghe, awe < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse agi fear, cognate with Gothic agis, Old English ege, Greek áchos pain

OTHER WORDS FROM awe

out·awe, verb (used with object), out·awed, out·aw·ing.

Example sentences from the Web for awe

British Dictionary definitions for awe

awe
/ (ɔː) /

noun

overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or dread
archaic power to inspire fear or reverence

verb

(tr) to inspire with reverence or dread

Derived forms of awe

aweless or US awless, adjective

Word Origin for awe

C13: from Old Norse agi; related to Gothic agis fear, Greek akhesthai to be grieved