Etymologically
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This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 14:26. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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
  • 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