A'wkward. adj. [[æƿaꞃꝺ, Saxon; that is, backward, untoward.]

1. lnelegant; unpolite; untaught; ungenteel.

                                     Proud Italy,
   Whose manners still our tardy, apish nation
   Limps after in base awkward imitation. Shak. Rich. II.

   Their own language is worthy their care; and they are judged of by their handsome or awkward way of expressing themselves in it. Locke.

   An awkward shame, or fear of ill usage, has a share in this conduct. Swift.

2. Unready; unhandy; not dexterous; clumsy.

   Slow to resolve, but in performance quick;
   So true, that he was awkward at a trick. Dryd. Hind and P.

3. Perverse; untoward.

                   A kind and constant friend
   To all that regularly offend;
   But was implacable, and awkward,
   To all that interlop'd and hawker'd. Hudibras.