Middle English Dictionary Entry
frōward adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | frōward adv. Also fraward, fromward. |
| Etymology | From frō & from; OE fromweard. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Away, to or at a distance, turned away; (b) toward and froward, to and fro, back and forth; (c) toward, froward, under any circumstances; (d) of time: onward.
Associated quotations
a
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Eall þat þa beon dragen toward, swa frett þa drane & dragað fraward.
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)58 : Come toward and go froward til þe perpendicle..falle vpon þe mydel lyne of þe quadrant.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1029 : Fals felicite With sodeyn swiȝ froward þou [Fortune] canst avale!
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)4a/a : Altrinsecus: frowarde.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)67/44 : Ȝif þou to þe cherche go, To-ward, fro-ward, or ellis cum fro, To here masse.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.1377 : What weye he [a wild horse] took, froward or a-side, He dauntede hym.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)10/5 : If hur bak were to the watur-warde and hur face frowarde, hit shuld no-thynge done to hem.
b
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)229 : They leden hym thoruȝ the citee, toward and froward, as a fole.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)203 : Beholde..how he es lede towarde and frowarde.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)890/14 : Sir Gawayne..rode many journeys, both towarde and frowarde.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)43 : Rube it..with a ladille toward and froward.
c
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)118.8 : Towarde, frawarde [L usquequaque] forlete me noght.
d
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)130/35 : Fro þens fromward [F de lors en auant] þei ben all obeyssant to him.
2.
(a) In a different manner; (b) perversely, insolently; froward shapen, misshapen.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)36b : Ha makieð frommard [L modo contrario] hare nest.
b
- a1350 Horn (Hrl 2253)1074 : Þe ȝateward þat him onsuerede froward [vr. hard].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7317 : Mi folk..ful fraward [Trin-C: frowardly] þai seke þam-self o a gret ougard.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8076 : Sagh man neuer for-wit þat hore Sua fraward scapen [Trin-C: frowarde shapen: Frf: misshapen] creature.