Middle English Dictionary Entry
fōr(e-wā̆rd adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | fōr(e-wā̆rd adv. |
| Etymology | From adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. for(e-wardes, forth-ward.
1.
(a) Of motion or direction: toward the front, forward; ~ or bakward; (b) fig. gon ~, to make progress; helpen ~, to further (someone), to promote.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)139b/a : Wynde þat is cause of þondir..meuyth now vpward, now donward, now foreward, now bacward.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)258b/b : Some [creeping beasts] draweþ so forewarde by strengþe of þe sydes and playuntnesse of þe body.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)315/6 : Þis chekeboon bineþe..goiþ out of þe ioynct forward.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.35.8 : The moeving of a planete, whether so he moeve forward or bakward.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)42.83 : Nasciens that In the se was Abrod..Now wente forward here A whille, and now Wente bakwardis..A myle.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)847 : Þe faster forward him he faris, þe faster he snapirs.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)33/20 : The othir..spored hys horse forewarde.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)117/22 : Ye may as well ryde backwarde as forewarde, hit ys so durke.
b
- (1433) Agree.Troutbeck in Earwaker Hist.St.Mary31 : As the worke goes forwarde.
- (1458-9) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 83.mem.2 : Somme money to help hym forward in his sute.
2.
Of position in space: (a) in front, at the front; (b) further, beyond.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1450 *Horse(1) (Dc 291)136a : The hors of gode entaile schall have..the house of the pyntell wele forward.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)44/20 : This so done, me most sette forwarde þe figures of the diuiser by o difference towardes the right honde.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)173 : Forwarde, or more vttyr: Ultra, ulterius.
3.
(a) Afterward (in time), hereafter, thereafter, later; (b) nou ~, hennes (hethen) ~, from nou (or hennes, this) ~, hereafter, henceforth, from now on; sithen ~, afterward; from that dai (time) ~; etc.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)5480 : As i sal tell ȝou sone forward [Vsp: forþerward; Trin-C: aftirwarde; Frf: forþwarde].
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)19182 : Þei shulde neuer more forward [Frf: forþerwarde] þis name..neuen.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)904 : Þis þat ȝe speke..ȝe sall layn forward ay.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)156/14 : Gode felawshippe haue we founde, And ay so forward schall we fynde.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)154 : Fro þat day forward neuer mo Failen, oþer for wele no wo.
- (1399) RParl.3.424/b : Fro this tyme forward.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)744 : Alle my oþys grete Fro þys forward [Dlw: þys tyme forth euere] wyl y lete.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11695 : I wil, þou fra nu forward [Göt: nu forthward; Frf: now heyþen forwarde] Be planted in min orcherd.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)30/18 : Þat sho amende hir siþin forward.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)264 : I schall neuere hethen forwarde fele ouȝt of hem.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)151 : From this tyme forward.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)969 : Þat heþen forward þou graunte hem fre.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.12.4 : Fro that tyme forward al the night til the sonne arise.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)351 : Hense forewarde y woll not hele The grete loue, that me doth fele.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)261 : I Resseyve [yow] fro hens forwarde to my Ioye.
4.
first and ~, first and foremost, first of all, above all.
Associated quotations
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)10.127 : Furst and foreward [vr. formest & ferst] to folk þat ben iweddet.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2684 : First and foreward, if ye wol considere the defautes that been in youre owene persone.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2187 : But first and forward she bigan to wepe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1475) Doc.in Sur.Soc.45343 : I Alice Moulton wydowe..vowe and promytt to lyff chaste frome this tyme forswarde, so God me help and thies holy Evangelistes.
Note: New spelling