away
adverb
- in an outward direction
adjective
- unavailable
- distant
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /əˈweɪ/ / /əˈwɛj/ / /əˈwæɪ/
adj
Etymology: See aweigh.
- Misspelling of aweigh.
adv
Etymology: From Middle English away, awey, awei, oway, o wey, on way, from Old English āweġ, onweġ (“away”), originally on weġ (“on one's way; onward; on”), equivalent to a- (“on”) + way. Cognate with Scots awa, away (“away”), Old Frisian aweg, awei (“away”), Saterland Frisian wäch, wääge (“away”), Dutch weg (“away”), German weg (“away”), Danish væk (“away”), Swedish i väg (“away; off; along”).
- From a place, hence.
“He went away on vacation.”
“The departure was not unduly prolonged.[…]Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments[…]; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity.”
- Aside; off; in another direction.
“I tried to approach him, but he turned away.”
- Aside, so as to discard something.
“throw away, chuck away, toss away”
- At a stated distance in time or space.
“Christmas is only two weeks away.”
“While De Anza was exploring the Bay of San Francisco, seeking a site for the presidio, the American colonists on the eastern seaboard, three thousand miles away, were celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”
- In or to something's usual or proper storage place.
“I'll dry the dishes and you put them away.”
“Please file away these documents.”
- In or to a secure or out-of-the-way place.
“The jewels were locked away in the safe.”
“He was shut away in the castle tower for six months.”
- From a state or condition of being; out of existence.
“fade away, die away”
“I'll sleep the rest of the day away/out and, hopefully, I'll manage to sleep this hangover off/away.”
- So as to remove or use up something.
“The weather has worn away the inscription, and it is no longer legible.”
“Please wipe away this spilled drink.”
- Come away; go away; take away.
“Away! Be gone! And don't let me see you round here again!”
“1933+, Fran Striker, The Lone Ranger, WXYZ-AM Hi-yo Silver, away!”
- On; in continuance; without intermission or delay.
“She's been in her room all day, working away at her computer.”
- Without restraint.
“You've got questions? Ask away!”
“I saw her whaling away at her detractors.”
intj
Etymology: From Middle English away, awey, awei, oway, o wey, on way, from Old English āweġ, onweġ (“away”), originally on weġ (“on one's way; onward; on”), equivalent to a- (“on”) + way. Cognate with Scots awa, away (“away”), Old Frisian aweg, awei (“away”), Saterland Frisian wäch, wääge (“away”), Dutch weg (“away”), German weg (“away”), Danish væk (“away”), Swedish i väg (“away; off; along”).
- Away with you! Go away! Begone!
verb
Etymology: From Middle English away, awey, awei, oway, o wey, on way, from Old English āweġ, onweġ (“away”), originally on weġ (“on one's way; onward; on”), equivalent to a- (“on”) + way. Cognate with Scots awa, away (“away”), Old Frisian aweg, awei (“away”), Saterland Frisian wäch, wääge (“away”), Dutch weg (“away”), German weg (“away”), Danish væk (“away”), Swedish i väg (“away; off; along”).
- To depart; to go to another place.
“At 9 o'clock sharp he awayed to bed.”