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Thaw vs Thwart - What's the difference?

thaw | thwart |

In lang=en terms the difference between thaw and thwart

is that thaw is to cause frozen things (such as earth, snow, ice) to melt, soften, or dissolve specifically by gradual warming while thwart is to prevent; to halt; to cause to fail; to foil; to frustrate.

As verbs the difference between thaw and thwart

is that thaw is to melt, dissolve, or become fluid; to soften; — said of that which is frozen; as, the ice thaws specifically by gradual warming while thwart is to prevent; to halt; to cause to fail; to foil; to frustrate.

As nouns the difference between thaw and thwart

is that thaw is the melting of ice, snow, or other congealed matter; the resolution of ice, or the like, into the state of a fluid; liquefaction by heat of anything congealed by frost while thwart is (nautical) a brace, perpendicular to the keel, that helps maintain the beam (breadth) of a marine vessel against external water pressure and that may serve to support the rail.

As an adjective thwart is

situated or placed across something else; transverse; oblique.

As an adverb thwart is

obliquely; transversely; athwart.

thaw

English

Alternative forms

* (l)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To melt, dissolve, or become fluid; to soften; — said of that which is frozen; as, the ice thaws. Specifically by gradual warming
  • To become so warm as to melt ice and snow; — said in reference to the weather, and used impersonally.
  • (figuratively) To grow gentle or genial.
  • To cause frozen things (such as earth, snow, ice) to melt, soften, or dissolve. Specifically by gradual warming.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The melting of ice, snow, or other congealed matter; the resolution of ice, or the like, into the state of a fluid; liquefaction by heat of anything congealed by frost
  • a warmth of weather sufficient to melt that which is congealed. —.

    • See also

    * unthaw, dethaw

    Anagrams

    * * * English ergative verbs

    thwart

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To prevent; to halt; to cause to fail; to foil; to frustrate.
  • * South
    • The proposals of the one never thwarted the inclinations of the other.
  • * , chapter=22
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part.
  • * {{quote-book, year=2006, author=(Edwin Black), title=Internal Combustion
    • , chapter=2 citation , passage=More than a mere source of Promethean sustenance to thwart the cold and cook one's meat, wood was quite simply mankind's first industrial and manufacturing fuel.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 10, author=David Ornstein, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Arsenal 1-0 Everton , passage=Everton were now firmly on the back foot and it required some sharp work from Johnny Heitinga and Phil Jagielka to thwart Walcott and Thomas Vermaelen.}}
  • (obsolete) To move across or counter to; to cross.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • Swift as a shooting star / In autumn thwarts the night.

    Synonyms

    * See also * foil, frustrate, impede, spoil

    Derived terms

    * athwart * athwartships * thwarter * thwartsome

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (nautical) A brace, perpendicular to the keel, that helps maintain the beam (breadth) of a marine vessel against external water pressure and that may serve to support the rail.
    • A well made doughout canoe rarely needs a thwart .
  • (nautical) A seat across a boat on which a rower may sit.
    • The fisherman sat on the aft thwart to row.

    Related terms

    * beam

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Situated or placed across something else; transverse; oblique.
  • * Milton
    • Moved contrary with thwart obliquities.
  • (figurative) Perverse; crossgrained.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Obliquely; transversely; athwart.
    • (Milton)

    References