-ward


a native english suffix denoting spatial or temporal direction, as specified by the initial element:
toward; seaward; afterward; backward.
also, -wards.
usage note
-ward
suffix
(forming adjectives) indicating direction towards a backward step, heavenward progress
(forming adverbs) a variant and the usual us and canadian form of -wards
word origin
old english -weard towards
-wards
suffix
indicating direction towards a step backwards, to sail sh-r-wards compare -ward
word origin
old english -weardes towards
-ward
adv. suffix expressing direction, o.e. -weard “toward,” lit. “turned toward,” sometimes -weardes, with genitive singular ending of neuter adjectives, from p.gmc. -warth (cf. o.s., o.fris. -ward, o.n. -verðr), variant of pie -wert- “to turn, wind,” from base -wer- “to turn, bend” (see versus). the original notion is of “turned toward.”

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  • -wise

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