Middle English Dictionary Entry
tọ̄̆ward adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | tọ̄̆ward adv. Also towarde, touwarde, (early) towearde, towweard. |
| Etymology | OE tōweard adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In a direction toward something or someone, in one direction, onward; also fig. [quot. a1400]; ~ (and) froward; (b) in the future; soon; hien ~, to approach; (c) ?at that time; ?in circulation, abroad; (d) nearly so, nearly.
Associated quotations
a
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : He wunede eall riht swa drane doð on hiue, Eall þæt þa beon dragen toward swa frett þa drane & dragað fraward, swa dide he eall þæt he mihte tacen wiðinnen & wiðuten of læred.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)118.8 : Þhine rightwisenesses I sal yheme in thoght; Towarde, frawarde, forlete me noght.
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)59 : If peraventure þe perpendicle falle vpon þe vmbre froward..torne þem into þe poyntes of þe vmbre toward.
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)66 : Lay þe myrure in þe playne grounde, and go toward and froward til you se þe toppe of þat thing in þe mydel of þat myrure.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)229 : They leden hym thoruȝ the citee, toward and froward as a fole.
- a1450 Treat.Horses (Sln 2584)131/607 : Þou schalt stere þe styllot touward & froward so þat þe quyter may renne oute.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)890/14 : Aftir sir Gawayne departed, he rode many journeys both towarde and frowarde.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)148/11 : Þu schuldys walke esyly a lytil in þi chambyr toward and froward, and alle þi membrys with þi body euynly to strech and streyn owte euynly on lenght.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2931 : In the Magnete stone opynly doth appere, Whose north poynt drawith towarde in yis cuntrey, Which vndir ye sowth sterre dryvith nedillis awey.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)68/23 : Sume þas tacnen we gesegen gefremede, sume we ondrædeð us towearde.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)67/3 : Þas gedrefodnysse þonne gewurðeð, & ateowodnysse þæs awyrgoden Antecristes tocyme, se þe on þysne middeneard towweard is to cumene.
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)111/803 : Þe first somenour warneþ al þe world þat þe day of rekenynge draweþ toward.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)3001 : Alle þe houres of þe day By þat tyme were passed away Safe þe nyght only Þat hyed toward hastily.
c
- (1461) Paston (EETS)1.520 : Item, ther was shrewd rewle toward in this cuntre, for ther was a certeyn person..gadered felaship to have mordered John Damme.
d
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)375/5881 : In þis spyce of jaundys, þe uryn is grene as þe feld or as grene gyrs, or mykyll toward, & þat is perylows.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)478/2318 : Uryn mare þan nede or comon cours is full wykked, & namely if it be citrin or toward.