Etymology

forward

for·ward
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Today it means: Situated toward or at the front of something. Full definition →

First used to 19th centuryMiddle English foreward ← Old English foreweard ← Proto-Germanic *fura-
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forward · adjective, adverb, verb, noun1

  1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*fura-“fore-”
  2. Old English · derived fromforeweard“forward, inclined to the front, fore, early, former”
  3. Middle English · derived fromforeward
  4. English todayforward

From Middle English foreward, from Old English foreweard (“forward, inclined to the front, fore, early, former”), from Proto-Germanic *fura- (“fore-”), *warþaz (“turned”), equivalent to fore + -ward. Cognate with Dutch voorwaarts (“forward”), German vorwärts (“forward”).

forward · noun2

  1. Old English · inherited fromforeweard“condition, bargain, agreement, contract, treaty, assurance”
  2. Middle English · inherited fromforeward
  3. English todayforward

From Middle English foreward, from Old English foreweard (“condition, bargain, agreement, contract, treaty, assurance”), equivalent to fore- + ward (“ward, keeping”). Cognate with Scots forward (“covenant, compact”), Dutch voorwaarde (“condition, terms, proviso, stipulation”). More at fore-, ward.

Words from the same roots

Proto-Germanic*fura- all →

fore-

First known use, by meaning

  • to 19th century Ready; prompt; ardently inclined; in a bad sense, eager or hasty.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.