Word for Wednesday: Awkward

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Awkward was first recorded as meaning ‘clumsy’ in the 1520s, and by 1704 referred to someone or something known for his/her/its ‘lack of grace’. It wasn’t until 1788 that the word was used in reference to ‘social embarrassment’.

The word has origins in the Old Norse ‘afugr’ meaning ‘turned the wrong way around’.


02 Dec 2015
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"Spellzone really is an incredibly simple, engaging and cost effective resource - it makes a big difference to literacy levels."

Millthorpe School, York

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