Athwart
/əˈθwɔːrt/noun
Across or from side to side; in opposition to or contrary to.
Did you know?Athwart comes from Old English roots meaning “across” and is related to a whole family of ancient words built on the idea of turning or crossing, not magic—but it *does* feel like a verbal barrier.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*þwerh-
“crosswise, oblique, adverse”
Old English
OE
on þweorh
“across, obliquely”
Middle English
ME
athwart
“across, from side to side”
14th Century
English
athwart
“across, in opposition to”
Modern English
English
athwart
“across; contrary to”