Athwart

Athwart

English, late 15th century

Adverb

  • Across from side to side; transversely.
  • So as to be perverse or contradictory.

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Example Sentences

“The couple sat athwart on the bench, looking in opposite directions.”

“The picnic tables were arranged in rows and athwart in pairs.” 

“The recent economic stats run athwart to predictions from the previous quarter.”

Word Origin

English, late 15th century

Why this word?

While “athwart” can be an adverb (modifying how a verb is used), it’s also used as a preposition. Prepositions indicate relationships between nouns and pronouns. Those relationships can pertain to location (“on,” “beside”), direction/movement (“into,” “toward”), time (“before,” “since”), cause (“because,” “for”), and manner (“with,” “by”). But these common prepositions aren’t the only options; plenty of other old-fashioned prepositions have fallen out of regular usage. “Athwart” is one such word. It means “from side to side of” — imagine sitting next to someone on a bench, but facing away from them. You would be sitting athwart (and that’s how the word is used as an adverb, as well). 

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Learn a new word Nictitation

ˌnɪktəˈteɪʃən