untoward un·to·ward Pronunciation Key (n-tôrd, -trd) adj.
Not favorable; unpropitious.
Troublesome; adverse: an untoward incident.
Hard to guide or control; unruly.
Improper; unseemly.
Archaic. Awkward.
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un·to·wardly adv.
un·to·wardness n.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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untoward
\Un*to"ward\, prep. [Unto + -ward.] Toward. [Obs.] --Gower.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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untoward
\Un*to"ward\, a. [Pref. un- not + toward.] 1. Froward; perverse. ``Save yourselves from this untoward generation.'' --Acts ii. 40.
2. Awkward; ungraceful. ``Untoward words.'' --Creech. ``Untoward manner.'' --Swift.
3. Inconvenient; troublesome; vexatious; unlucky; unfortunate; as, an untoward
wind or accident. -- Un*to\"ward*ly, adv. -- Un*to\"ward*ness, n.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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untoward
adj 1: not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society; "was buried with indecent haste"; "indecorous behavior"; "language unbecoming to a lady"; "unseemly to use profanity"; "moved to curb their untoward ribaldry" [syn: indecent, indecorous, unbecoming, uncomely, unseemly] 2: contrary to your interests or welfare; "adverse circumstances"; "made a place for themselves under the most untoward conditions" [syn: adverse, harmful, inauspicious]
Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University