To overawe someone is to fill them with so much respect, or fear, or both, that they go a bit small. They may freeze, speak less, or not dare to argue.

to overawe someone要overawe一個人 is就是 to fill them with讓他們充滿 so much respect太多的尊敬、 or fear或恐懼、 or both或兩者都有、 that they go a bit small到讓他們縮小了一點。 they他們 may freeze可能會僵住、 speak less話變少、 or not dare to argue或不敢反駁。

The feeling is not only “scared”, like a jump in the dark, and not only “impressed”, like a nice show — it is that mix older English called awe, piled on until it weighs on the person.

the feeling這種感覺 is not only "scared"不只是「害怕」、 like a jump in the dark像在黑暗中被嚇一跳、 and not only "impressed"也不只是「佩服」、 like a nice show像看了一場好表演 -- it is它是 that mix older English called awe舊式英文叫做awe的那種混合感、 piled on until it weighs on the person層層堆疊到壓在人身上。

A huge hall, a famous teacher, or a very strict boss can overawe you. The word is a bit literary; in everyday talk people often say intimidated, or just “I froze”.

a huge hall一個巨大的大廳、 a famous teacher一位有名的老師、 or a very strict boss或一個非常嚴格的老闆 can overawe you都可能讓你敬畏到縮起來。 the word這個字 is a bit literary有點文學性; in everyday talk在日常對話裡 people often say人常常說 intimidated害怕退縮、 or just只是 "I froze"「我當場愣住了」。

The big thing overawes the person, not the other way round. Though actually, you will meet the form overawed far more than this verb.

the big thing那個大的事物 overawes the person讓人敬畏縮起、 not the other way round而不是反過來。 though actually不過其實、 you will meet你會遇到 the form overawed overawed這個型態 far more than遠比 this verb這個動詞本身 更常見。