Etymologically
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toward

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /təˈwɔːd/, US /tɔːrd/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English touward,[2] inherited from Old English tōweard (“in the direction of”), the prepositional use of the adjective tōweard “coming, approaching, future”,[3][2] a compound from Old English tō + -weard, literally “to-ward”.[3][2][4] Old Saxon tōward and Old High German zuowart “directed forwards” are cognates.[4] towards is from Old English tōweardes, with the adverbial genitive ending -es.[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The preposition, in the direction of: before 899, in Alfred's translation of Orosius,[2] as was the adjective “coming, future”, about 888 in the OED.[6]

Semantic evolution

Of time, “near, about”, the preposition is from about 1500.[3] The Old English adjective meant “approaching, impending”, from about 890, now obsolete.[6] Of young people, “promising, eager to learn”, it is from about 1290,[6][4] and by about 1300 it meant “benevolent” and “pliant, docile”, perhaps from the idea of aiming to reach, hence willing to serve.[3] “Willing, compliant” is from about 1440.[6] Of things, “favourable, propitious”, the opposite of untoward, it is from 1850, rare.[6][3] Compare froward “turned against, disobedient” and forward.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 888 – adjective, future.[6]
  • before 899 – preposition.[2]
  • c. 1290 – promising, of young people.[6]
  • c. 1440 – compliant.[6]
  • c. 1500 – of time, near.[3]
  • 1850 – favourable.[6][3]

Modern meaning

Preposition

  1. In the direction of: walking toward the house.
  2. Facing: a window toward the sea.
  3. Shortly before: toward evening.
  4. With regard to: attitudes toward women.
  5. As a contribution to: money toward a car.

Adjective

  1. (archaic) About to happen; imminent.
  2. (archaic) Favourable; propitious.

Word family

  • towardness
  • untoward
  • towardly

Usage notes

The American Heritage Dictionary notes that the difference between toward and towards is purely regional: toward is more common in American English, towards in British English.[7]

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 Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin