In an awkward manner; clumsily or ungracefully (archaic or non-standard).
From 'awk' (Norse 'aukr' meaning 'turned the wrong way') plus '-ly' (Old English adverbial suffix). The origin suggests something inherently 'backwards' or wrong-oriented.
The word 'awkward' has Viking roots—it originally meant 'turned the wrong way,' which makes perfect sense! You can actually feel that wrong-direction meaning when you see someone being awkward—they're moving the 'wrong' way socially.
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