Word of the Day: Awe
Have you ever considered that the words awful and awesome both contain “awe” but have very different meanings?
I hear the word awe come up often in wellness. A quick search will yield many articles about “the healing power of awe”, especially in relation to human experiences in nature. In order to tap into the potential healing wisdom of these words, it helps to understand what they mean and how that meaning has shifted over time.
Let’s explore the true meaning of the word awe through etymology.
awe (noun) : a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder
awe (verb) : inspire with awe
Awe comes from the Old English ege meaning “terror, dread, awe” and Old Norse agi meaning “fright.” These come from the Proto-Germanic *agiz and PIE *agh-es from the root *agh which means “to be depressed, be afraid.” The meaning of reverential fear or “dread mixed with admiration” is due to the use of the word awe in reference to God when used in the Bible. The Hebrew word is yirah (יראה) and it translates to “fear” but also encompasses many other meanings such as awe, reverence, dread, terror, worship.
Like the Hebrew word yirah, awe holds many meanings. The root meaning is fear but it doesn’t stop there. In the definition of awe we also see respect, reverence, and wonder. In a Biblical sense we see admiration and worship alongside fear.
Awe is a feeling that often comes in the presence of something bigger than us, something vast. It is applied to our experiences of nature, of God, of life’s mysteries, and great artistic creations.
The word awful originally meant “awe-inspiring” or “profoundly reverential” and shifted more towards the modern meaning “very bad or unpleasant” over time. Awesome has a similar original meaning “something that inspires awe.” It is now commonly used as a slang term for anything great. These words have shifted in opposite directions but still hold some of the original meaning of awe.
What I love about the word awe is that it reminds us that life contains a full spectrum of experiences. If you experience something awful, remember that you will also experience awesome moments. There is hope. When you experience something awesome, savor it with gratitude. The wheel of fortune will turn again.
