awry

awry, askew, askance mean deviating from a straight line or direction. They may all imply divergence from what is straight or straightforward, direct, symmetrical, or orderly, but they are seldom applicable to the same things.

Awry carries a strong implication of disorderliness, of disarrangement, or of confusion

{

the blinds all hang awry

}

{

every- thing in the kitchen was awry

}

{

their plans went awry

}

Askew stresses crookedness or distortion. It implies that the thing so described is set at a wrong angle, is twisted out of its proper position, or goes off in the wrong direction

{

every chair in this room is askew

}

{

since the hurricane many of the trees are askew

}

{

the seam in the front of your skirt runs askew

}

Askance is used chiefly in the set phrases “to look, or eye, or view askance” which all mean to observe or examine with mistrust, suspicion, disfavor, jealousy, or disapproval

{

aside the Devil turned for envy; yet with jealous leer malign eyed them askance— Milton

}

{

both . . . were viewed askance by authority— Gladstone

}