thwart

Pronunciation

• IPA: /θwɔːt/ (UK); /θwɔɹt/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English thwerten, from thwert “across”,^{[2][3][4][5][6]} from Old Norse þvert (“across”), the neuter of þverr “transverse”.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} It is related to Old English þweorh “crooked, perverse” and Gothic þwairhs “angry”.^[3][4][6] The noun “rower's seat” is an alteration of obsolete thoft, from Old English thofte.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a verb, to oppose or hinder (about 1250).^[3][4][5][7]

Semantic evolution

The adverb meant “across, crosswise”,^[7][4][3] and the verb had physical senses such as to lie across or to cross (1413).^[7][4] The verb's sense of opposing or hindering is the oldest,^[3][4][7] and it now usually means to prevent someone from accomplishing a purpose.^[2][5][6] The spelling with -a- dates from the 15th century.^[4] The noun meaning a seat across a boat is dated 1721 by the OED^[7] and about 1736 by Barnhart and Merriam-Webster.^[3][5]

Timeline

• probably before 1200 – thwertover, across.^[3][4]
• about 1250 – verb, to oppose.^[3][4][7]
• before 1350 – adverb, across.^[7]
• 1413 – verb, to pass across.^[7]
• 1611 – noun, a hindrance.^[7][3]
• 1721 – a rower's seat.^[7]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To prevent someone from accomplishing something; to frustrate or foil.
2. To oppose and defeat a plan or effort.

Noun

1. A seat across a boat on which a rower sits.

Adjective

1. Lying across; transverse.
2. (archaic) Perverse or obstinate.

Adverb

1. Across; athwart.

Word family

• thwarter
• thwartly
• thwartedly
• athwart

Related words

• overthwart

Usage notes

Random House distinguishes thwart, frustrate and baffle.^[6] Thwart suggests stopping someone by opposing or blocking their efforts, while frustrate implies making all efforts useless.^[6] Baffle suggests defeat through confusion or perplexity.^[6]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e f g Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press