rearward

plural rearwards · alternative rereward

1. The part that comes last or is situated in the rear; conclusion, wind-up.

   Do not liue Hero, do not ope thine eies: / For did I thinke thou vvouldſt not quickly die / Thought I thy ſpirites vvere ſtronger than thy ſhames / My ſelfe would on the rerevvard of reproches / Strike at thy life.

   1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

   2 more examples

   For, though it were a knowen corruption, and therefore ſhould haue beene auoyded; yet [Robert] Bellarmine in muſtering vp the Fathers authorities, for proofe of the reading, ipſa (the beſt ground of their Mariolatrie) brings in [John] Chryſoſtom in the rereward.

   1611, Thomas Iames [i.e., Thomas James], “The 32. Place Corrupted, in the 17. Homily of Chrys[ostom] vpon Gen[esis] To[me] 1. Pg. 97.”, in A Treatise of the Corrvption of Scripture, Councels, and Fathers, by the Prelats, Pastors, and Pillars of the Church of Rome, for Maintenance of Popery and Irreligion. […], London: […] H. L. for Mathew Lownes, →OCLC; republished London: […] H. L. for Mathew Lownes; […], 1612, →OCLC, part II (Corruption of the True Fathers), page 85

   Ever he gazed earnestly on the main battle of the Romans, and what they were doing, and presently it became clear to him that they would outgo him and come to the ford, and then he wotted well that they would set on him just when their light-armed were on his flank and his rearward, and then it would go hard but they would break their array and all would be lost: […]

   1889, William Morris, “Otter and His Folk Come into Mid-mark”, in A Tale of the House of the Wolfings and All the Kindreds of the Mark […], London: Reeves and Turner […], →OCLC, page 126

2. The last troop; the rear of an army; a rear guard.

   Come in the rearward of a conquered woe

   1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 90”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC

comparative more rearward · superlative most rearward

1. Toward the back or rear of something.

   The rearward seats of the bus were unpleasantly close to the toilet facilities.

   1 more example

   Unlike the earlier standard designs, in which the whole of the footplate was on the engine, fall plates are re-introduced and these are hinged from the front of the tender to rest on the rearward extension of the cab floor.

   1954 March, “New Class "9" 2-10-0 Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 166

1. Toward the back or rear of something.

   The ensuing struggle was bitter but brief, as for a third time the Alabamians stumbled rearward through the cedars. If Manigault were to take the guns, he would need help.

   1991, Peter Cozzens, Better Place to Die: The Battle of Stones River, page 124

   Synonyms: rearwards