awesome English · revision 2846

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1598}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɔː.səm/, US /ˈɑː.səm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|awe|-some]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Full of awe, profoundly reverential”: 1598,^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) the 1590s;^(Etymonline) the SOED finds it first in Scotland.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meaning “inspiring awe or dread” is from the 1670s, 1671 in the OED,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in Scots and northern English dialects ''awesome'' meant “awful, appalling, terrifying”, as in Scott's novels.^(Wright 1898) The weakened colloquial sense, “overwhelming, remarkable”, originally American, is recorded by 1961,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the trivial use as a word of praise, “marvellous, great”, from 1980, in vogue since about then.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1598 – full of awe.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1671 – inspiring awe.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1961 – remarkable (colloquial).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1980 – excellent, great.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Inspiring [[awe]]; impressive, or frightening.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' Extremely good; [[excellent]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Full of awe; expressing awe.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[awesomely]]

+ * [[awesomeness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[awe-inspiring]]

+ * [[awful]]

+ * [[awe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}