forward

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈfɔː.wəd/, US /ˈfɔːr.wɚd/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English forward, inherited from Old English foreweard (“toward the front; early; superior”), from fore- and -ward,^[2][3][4] or a variant of Old English forþweard (“onwards”), from forth.^[5][6][7] The adverb is from Old English forewearde.^[3][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The adjective, toward the front: Old English foreweard, before 900,^[3] or about 900 in the sense “the front part of”.^[9] The adverb, about 875, in Genesis B.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The adverb meant “toward the future” in Old English and “toward the front, onward” from the 14th century.^[5] From the notion of being advanced in progress, the adjective came in early Modern English to mean “ready, prompt”, and by the 1560s, in a bad sense, “presumptuous, impertinent”.^[2][5] The verb meant “to help forward, promote” from the 1590s^[2] or 1596,^[9] and “to send on to another destination” by 1757, later of email.^[2][9] The noun, a player in the front line, is from 1879.^[2][8] The sense “toward the future” survives in phrases such as look forward to.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 875 – adverb (Genesis B).^[3]
• before 900 – adjective.^[3]
• 14th century – toward the front.^[5]
• 1560s – presumptuous.^[2]
• 1596 – verb, to promote.^[9]
• 1757 – verb, to send on.^[2][9]
• 1879 – noun, a forward player.^[2]

Modern meaning

Adverb

1. Toward the front; ahead.
2. Into view or consideration: come forward.
3. In or toward the future.

Adjective

1. At, near or belonging to the front.
2. Moving or directed toward the front.
3. Ready, eager; too bold, presumptuous.
4. Advanced in development.

Verb

1. To send on to another address.
2. To help advance; to promote.

Noun

1. A player in the attacking line in football, basketball or hockey.

Word family

• forwardly
• forwardness
• forwardable
• unforwarded

Related words

• fore
• forth
• -ward
• forwards
• froward
• toward

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
4. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (2000), 4th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
5. ^ a b c d Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ Soanes, Catherine; Stevenson, Angus, eds. (2004), Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
9. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press