-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.”
Read Also:
- -wards
variant of -ward: towards; afterwards. usage note -wards suffix indicating direction towards a step backwards, to sail sh-r-wards compare -ward word origin old english -weardes towards
- -ware
a combining form extracted from software, occurring as the final element in words that refer to a specified kind or cl-ss of software: spyware; shareware. see also ware1 (def 2). -ware a suffix that means “software,” as in shareware. [“software”] commonly used to form terms for cl-sses of software. for examples, see careware, crippleware, crudware, […]
- -watch
suffix indicating a regular television programme or newspaper feature on the topic specified crimewatch
- -wide
a combining form of wide, forming from nouns adjectives with the general sense “extending or applying throughout a given sp-ce,” as specified by the noun: communitywide; countrywide; worldwide.
- -wise
a suffixal use of wise2. in adverbs denoting manner, position, direction, reference, etc.: counterclockwise; edgewise; marketwise; timewise. compare -ways. usage note -wise combining form also -ways. indicating direction or manner clockwise, likewise with reference to profitwise, businesswise word origin old english -wisan; see wise²