Etymology Map
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Awful

3 stages from Old Norse to English.

Today it means very bad or unpleasant; (old) inspiring awe

Where does the word "awful" come from? It comes from Old Norse agi, passing through Middle English before entering English (1809).

1
Stage 1 of 3
agi
Old Norse · 900s
"awe, terror"
'terror, fear', brought by Viking settlers; it replaced the native Old English ege
2
Stage 2 of 3
agheful
Middle English · 1300s
"awe-inspiring"
'awe' + '-ful': worthy of reverent fear, as God or a king was
3
Stage 3 of 3
awful
English · 1809
"very bad"
the weakened sense 'very bad' is recorded by 1809; in 1794 Hester Lynch Piozzi had already scolded well-bred ladies for using 'awful' too lightly
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Read the full story

Awful’s story begins in Old Norse: agi meant “awe, terror.” 'terror, fear', brought by Viking settlers; it replaced the native Old English ege. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as agheful. 'awe' + '-ful': worthy of reverent fear, as God or a king was. It reached English by 1809 as awful. The weakened sense 'very bad' is recorded by 1809; in 1794 Hester Lynch Piozzi had already scolded well-bred ladies for using 'awful' too lightly. Today, awful means very bad or unpleasant; (old) inspiring awe.