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”).
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.1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
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One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains. Isolating a city’s effluent and shipping it away in underground sewers has probably saved more lives than any medical procedure except vaccination.2014 June 14, “It's a gas”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8891:
2
Aside; off; in another direction.
I tried to approach him, but he turned away.
3
Aside, so as to discard something.
throw away, chuck away, toss away
4
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.1948, Carey McWilliams, North from Mexico / The Spanish-Speaking People of The United States, J. B. Lippincott Company, page 25:
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From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52:
5
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.
6
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.
7
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.
8
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.
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He gambled his inheritance away.
That's where tourists go to hear great Cuban bands and dance the night away.
I've just idled away the morning.
9
As imperative 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!
10
On; in continuance; without intermission or delay.
She's been in her room all day, working away at her computer.
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”).
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”).
1
Not here, gone, absent, unavailable, traveling; on vacation.
The master is away from home on a course.
Would you pick up my mail while I'm away.
2
At a specified distance in space, time, or figuratively.
He's miles away by now.
Spring is still a month away.
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My office is only an hour away.
3
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Not on one's home territory.
Golf, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Being the player whose ball lies farthest from the hole (or, in disc golf, whose disc lies farthest from the target).
For example, immediately after every person in the group has teed off, if you are clearly the away player (perhaps because you smacked your drive into the tree closest to the tee pad), you should grab your bag and try to be the first person advancing down the fairway.2016, Justin Menickelli, Ryan Pickens, Definitive Guide to Disc Golf:
away
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”).