/
θwɔːt/
v.
 prevent from succeeding in or accomplishing something.
n.
 a structural crosspiece forming a seat for a rower in a boat.
prep.
 & 
adv.
 archaic or 
literary from one side to another side of; across.
Etymology
ME thwerte, from thwert ‘perverse, obstinate, adverse’, from ON thvert, neut. of thverr ‘transverse’.