untoward

  • 1Untoward — Un*to ward, a. [Pref. un not + toward.] [1913 Webster] 1. Froward; perverse. Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Acts ii. 40. [1913 Webster] 2. Awkward; ungraceful. Untoward words. Creech. Untoward manner. Swift. [1913 Webster] 3.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2untoward — [un tō′ərd, untôrd′] adj. [ UN + TOWARD] 1. inappropriate, improper, unseemly, etc. [an untoward remark] 2. not favorable or fortunate; adverse, inauspicious, etc. [untoward circumstances] 3. Archaic stubborn or unruly 4. Obs. awkward; …

    English World dictionary

  • 3untoward — [adj1] troublesome adverse, annoying, awkward, contrary, disastrous, disturbing, fractious, hapless, ill starred, inauspicious, inconvenient, indocile, inimical, inopportune, intractable, irritating, luckless, misfortunate, perverse, recalcitrant …

    New thesaurus

  • 4Untoward — Un*to ward, prep. [Unto + ward.] Toward. [Obs.] Gower. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5untoward — index adverse (hostile), deplorable, detrimental, disproportionate, inadvisable, inapposite, inappropriate …

    Law dictionary

  • 6untoward — (adj.) 1520s, not having inclination (to or for something), also difficult to manage, unruly, from UN (Cf. un ) (1) not + TOWARD (Cf. toward) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 7untoward — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ unexpected and inappropriate or adverse …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8untoward — un|to|ward [ ʌntə wɔrd ] adjective not appropriate, usual, or normal: nothing untoward: It s important that nothing untoward should happen during his visit. anything untoward: There was no evidence in the house of anything untoward …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 9untoward — UK [ˌʌntəˈwɔː(r)d] / US [ʌntəˈwɔrd] adjective not suitable, usual, or normal nothing untoward: It s important that nothing untoward should happen during his visit. anything untoward: There was no evidence in the house of anything untoward …

    English dictionary

  • 10untoward — [[t]ʌ̱ntəwɔ͟ː(r)d, AM tɔ͟ː(r)d[/t]] ADJ: pron indef ADJ, ADJ n If you say that something untoward happens, you mean that something happens that is unexpected and causes difficulties. [FORMAL] The surveyor s report didn t highlight anything… …

    English dictionary