awe

Everyday

1. A strong feeling of wonder and respect, sometimes with a little fear, when you see something huge, beautiful or powerful. tree →
2. (verb) To fill someone with awe: «The mountains awed us.» tree →
3. (church) The deep respect and wonder people of faith feel before God; Christians speak of «awe and wonder». tree →

In the lessons

In science and RE lessons, «awe and wonder» describes the feeling of looking at stars, mountains or a newborn baby. In The Wind in the Willows, in the chapter «The Piper at the Gates of Dawn», Mole feels «a great Awe» when he and Ratty meet Pan, the Friend and Helper, on the island. Phrases: «in awe of», «stand in awe», «awe-inspiring», «awestruck».

Examples

• We stood in awe at the edge of the Grand Canyon. tree →
• The little children were in awe of the big footballers. tree →
• Mole felt a great awe fall upon him. tree →
• The night sky filled her with awe. tree →
• The cathedral was awe-inspiring. tree →
• He was too awed to speak. tree →
• In assembly we talked about awe and wonder. tree →
• In awe and amazement the village was dumb. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «filled with awe». Awe is the root of awful (once meaning «full of awe», now «very bad») and awesome (now «great» in slang). Homophones: awe / or / oar in many accents.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means a feeling of holy fear and wonder before God's presence.

Interpretation. Jacob calls Bethel awesome after his dream. The tradition links this to yirah, reverence before God, which is the base of Jewish worship. The sages later taught that the Temple was built on this place.

Examples

• And he was afraid, and said: 'How full of awe is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.' (Torah GEN.28.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. (Prophets 1SA.18.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of Thy words. (Writings PSA.119.161, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. (Writings PSA.33.8, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable: «filled with awe». Awe is the root of awful (once meaning «full of awe», now «very bad») and awesome (now «great» in slang). Homophones: awe / or / oar in many accents.