toward
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I. adjective
Etymology: Middle English toward, from Old English tōweard facing, imminent, from tō, preposition, to + -weard -ward
Date: before 12th century
1. (also towards) [Middle English towardes, from Old English tōweardes, preposition, toward, from tōweard, adjective]
a. coming soon ; imminent
b. happening at the moment ; afoot
2.
a. obsolete quick to learn ; apt
b. propitious, favoring <a toward breeze> II. preposition or towards Date: before 12th century 1. in the direction of <driving toward town> 2. a. along a course leading to <a long stride toward disarmament> b. in relation to <an attitude toward life> 3. a. at a point in the direction of ; near <a cottage somewhere up toward the lake> b. in such a position as to be in the direction of <your back was toward me> 4. not long before <toward the end of the afternoon> 5. a. in the way of help or assistance in <did all he could toward raising campaign funds> b. for the partial payment of <proceeds go toward the establishment of a scholarship>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
Look at other dictionaries:
Toward — To ward, Towards To wards, prep.[AS. ? impending, imminent, future, toward, ? towards. See {To}, and {ward}, {wards}.] 1. In the direction of; to. [1913 Webster] He set his face toward the wilderness. Num. xxiv. 1. [1913 Webster] The waves make… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Toward — ( gd. Tollard) is a village near Dunoon at the southern tip of the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Nearby is Castle Toward, a former country house built close to the ruined Toward Castle. Now an outdoor education centre, its grounds … Wikipedia
Toward — To ward, a. [AS. ?. See {Toward}, prep.] 1. Approaching; coming near. His toward peril. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. Readly to do or learn; compliant with duty; not froward; apt; docile; tractable; as, a toward youth. [1913 Webster] 3. Ready to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
toward — [tôrd; tōrd, tō′ərd; twôrd; too wôrd′, təwôrd′; ] for adj. [ tō′ərd, tôrd] prep. [ME < OE toweard: see TO1 & WARD] 1. in the direction of 2. so as to face; facing 3. in a manner designed to achieve or along a course likely to result in; in… … English World dictionary
toward — toward, towards In BrE towards is much the more common form for the preposition, whereas in AmE toward is more usual: We walked toward / towards the house … Modern English usage
Toward — To ward, Towards To wards adv. Near; at hand; in state of preparation. [1913 Webster] Do you hear sught, sir, of a battle toward ? Shak. [1913 Webster] We have a trifling foolish banquet Towards. Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
toward — / towards [prep1] on the way to; near against, almost, approaching, close to, coming up, contra, en route, facing, for, fronting, headed for, in relation to, in the direction of, in the vicinity, just before, moving, nearing, nearly, not quite,… … New thesaurus
toward — O.E. toweard in the direction of, prepositional use of toweard (adj.) coming, approaching, from to (see TO (Cf. to)) + weard, from P.Gmc. * warth, from PIE *wert turn (see WARD (Cf. ward)). Towards with … Etymology dictionary
toward — to|ward [ tɔrd, tə wɔrd ] or to|wards [ tɔrdz, tə wɔrdz ] preposition *** 1. ) in a particular direction used for saying in which direction someone or something is going, facing, or looking: a stream of traffic speeding toward the city I saw… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
toward — towardness, n. prep. /tawrd, tohrd, teuh wawrd , twawrd, twohrd/; adj. /tawrd, tohrd/, prep. Also, towards. 1. in the direction of: to walk toward the river. 2. with a view to obtaining or having; for: They re saving money toward a new house. 3.… … Universalium
