toward English · revision 3891

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=before 899|origins=ang tō, ang -weard}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /təˈwɔːd/, US /tɔːrd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|touward]],^(Barnhart 1988) [[inh|ang|tōweard|t=in the direction of]], the prepositional use of the adjective tōweard “coming, approaching, future”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a compound [[af|ang|tō|-weard]], literally “to-ward”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Old Saxon tōward and Old High German zuowart “directed forwards” are cognates.^(Hoad 1986) [[towards]] is from Old English tōweardes, with the adverbial genitive ending -es.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The preposition, in the direction of: before 899, in Alfred's translation of Orosius,^(Barnhart 1988) as was the adjective “coming, future”, about 888 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of time, “near, about”, the preposition is from about 1500.^(Etymonline) The Old English adjective meant “approaching, impending”, from about 890, now obsolete.^(OED 1989) Of young people, “promising, eager to learn”, it is from about 1290,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and by about 1300 it meant “benevolent” and “pliant, docile”, perhaps from the idea of aiming to reach, hence willing to serve.^(Etymonline) “Willing, compliant” is from about 1440.^(OED 1989) Of things, “favourable, propitious”, the opposite of [[untoward]], it is from 1850, rare.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Compare [[froward]] “turned against, disobedient” and [[forward]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 888 – adjective, future.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 899 – preposition.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1290 – promising, of young people.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1440 – compliant.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1500 – of time, near.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1850 – favourable.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # In the direction of: ''walking toward the house''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Facing: ''a window toward the sea''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Shortly before: ''toward evening''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # With regard to: ''attitudes toward women''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # As a contribution to: ''money toward a car''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(archaic)'' About to happen; [[imminent]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Favourable; [[propitious]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[towardness]]

+ * [[untoward]]

+ * [[towardly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[towards]]

+ * [[froward]]

+ * [[forward]]

+ * [[to]]

+ * [[-ward]]

+

+ ==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.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}