The word "overawful" is a combination of "over" and "awful", and is pronounced as /ˌoʊvərˈɒfʊl/. The "o" in "over" is pronounced as "oh", while the "a" in "awful" has a shorter "ah" sound. The stress in the word is on the second syllable, "aw", with the "ful" part being pronounced as "ful" with a full vowel sound. The word means excessively or extremely awful and is not commonly used in everyday language. It is important to spell and pronounce words accurately to avoid confusion and misunderstandings.
The word "overawful" is formed by combining the prefix "over-" and the adjective "awful".
The word "awful" has its roots in the Old English word "egefull", which meant "inspiring awe". Over time, "egefull" evolved into "awe-ful", reinforcing the connection with awe or fear. In Middle English, "awful" began to be used in a more negative sense to describe things that were frightful or causing terror.
The prefix "over-" in "overawful" is used to intensify the adjective that follows it. It suggests something is excessively awful or extremely dreadful. This use of "over-" as an intensifier to emphasize or exaggerate the meaning of a word is common in English language.