Awe. sb. [ME awe < ON agi; akin to OE ege 'awe', Gk achos 'pain'] Dread or terror.
Shock. sb. [< MFr choc < choquer 'to strike against'] A sudden violent or emotional mental or emotional disturbance; something that causes such a disturbance; a state of being so disturbed.
Harlan Ullman uses the term shock and awe for his strategy on how to win the second Gulf War: his position and another view.
Posted by jim at March 23, 2003 07:13 AM