ATHWART • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Athwart

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/əθwˈɔrt/ Listen

adverb

Athwart adv.

1.

Across, especially in an oblique direction; sidewise; obliquely. "Sometimes athwart, sometimes he strook him straight."

2.

Across the course; so as to thwart; perversely. "All athwart there came A post from Wales loaden with heavy news."

preposition

Athwart prep.

1.

Across; from side to side of. "Athwart the thicket lone."

2.

(Naut.) Across the direction or course of; as, a fleet standing athwart our course.

Athwart hawse, across the stem of another vessel, whether in contact or at a small distance.

Athwart ships, across the ship from side to side, or in that direction; opposed to fore and aft.

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Etymology of 'Athwart'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Athwart" Quotes from Famous Books

... correspondence, its declared policy, its established authority, and its representative and local agents; the latter are actual administrators alongside of administrations which are abolished, or athwart administrations which are brought under subjection.—In vain do the latest ministers, good clerks and honest men, try to fulfill their duties; their injunctions and remonstrances are only so much waste paper.[2472] They resign in ...

— The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 3 (of 6) - The French Revolution, Volume 2 (of 3) • Hippolyte A. Taine

... is the night, No a starn in a' the carry;[84] Lightnings gleam athwart the lift, And winds drive wi' winter's fury. O! are ...

— The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volumes I-VI. - The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century • Various

... metheglin deep and full: Late I left the giant throng, Yelling loud thy funeral song; Imprecating deep and dread Curses on thy guilty head. Soon with Lok, thy tortur'd soul, Must in boiling billows roll; Till the God's eternal light Bursts athwart thy gloom of night; Till Surtur gallops from afar, To burn this breathing world of war. Bold to brave the spear of death, Heroes hurry o'er the heath: Hasten to the smoking feast— Welcome every helmed ...

— Translations of German Poetry in American Magazines 1741-1810 • Edward Ziegler Davis

... command upraising, no harsh cry To stand aside;—because the dignity Of silver hairs is much, and morning praise Was precious to the Jew, too. Thus their ways Wended the pair; Great Ali, sad and slow, Following the greybeard, while the East, a-glow, Blazed with bright spears of gold athwart the blue, And the Muezzin's call came ...

— Indian Poetry • Edwin Arnold

... questions involved are social and moral and are not susceptible of being made part of a party program. Whenever they have been made the subject matter of party contests they have cut the lines of party organization and party action athwart, to the utter confusion of political action in every other field.... I do not believe party programs of the highest consequence to the political life of the State and of the nation ought to be thrust ...

— A Preface to Politics • Walter Lippmann

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