Etymology Map
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Awe

3 stages from Old Norse to English.

Today it means a feeling of reverence mixed with fear or wonder

Where does the word "awe" come from? It comes from Old Norse agi, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
agi
Old Norse · medieval
"terror"
terror, fright
2
Stage 2 of 3
aghe
Middle English · 1200s
"dread"
replaced the native Old English word 'ege'
3
Stage 3 of 3
awe
English · 1500s
"reverent wonder"
'awesome', full of awe, dates from the 1590s; the slang sense 'great' from the 1980s
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Read the full story

Awe’s story begins in Old Norse: agi meant “terror.” Terror, fright. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as aghe. Replaced the native Old English word 'ege'. It reached English by 1500s as awe. 'awesome', full of awe, dates from the 1590s; the slang sense 'great' from the 1980s. Today, awe means a feeling of reverence mixed with fear or wonder.