towards

towards
\ \ [OE] The suffix -ward or -wards, which underlies towards, forward, and a host of other English adverbs and adjectives, comes from a prehistoric Germanic *-warth. This in turn goes back to the Indo-European base *wert- ‘turn’ (source also of English convert, version, etc) – so etymologically, towards denotes ‘turning to’ something.
\ \ Cf.CONVERT, VERSION

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Towards — To wards, prep. & adv. See {Toward}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • towards — [tôrdz; tōrdz, tō′ərdz; twôrdz; too wôrdz′, təwôrdz′] prep. 〚ME towardes < OE toweardes < toweard + adv. gen. ( e)s〛 TOWARD * * * to·wards (tôrdz, tōrdz, tə wôrdzʹ) prep. Variant of toward. adj. Variant of toward. * * * …   Universalium

  • towards — (chiefly N. Amer. also toward) ► PREPOSITION 1) in the direction of. 2) getting nearer to (a time or goal). 3) in relation to. 4) contributing to the cost of. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • towards — [tôrdz; tōrdz, tō′ərdz; twôrdz; too wôrdz′, təwôrdz′] prep. [ME towardes < OE toweardes < toweard + adv. gen. ( e)s] TOWARD …   English World dictionary

  • towards — [[t]təwɔ͟ː(r)dz, AM tɔ͟ːrdz[/t]] ♦ (in AM and sometimes in BRIT, use toward) 1) PREP If you move, look, or point towards something or someone, you move, look, or point in their direction. Caroline leant across the table towards him... Anne left… …   English dictionary

  • towards */*/*/ — UK [təˈwɔː(r)dz] / US [təˈwɔrdz] 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 towards West London I saw Joanna hurrying towards me along …   English dictionary

  • towards — to|wards W1S1 [təˈwo:dz US to:rdz, two:rdz] prep especially BrE to|ward [təˈwo:d US to:rd, two:rd] especially AmE ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(direction)¦ 2¦(producing a result)¦ 3¦(feeling/attitude)¦ 4¦(help pay for)¦ 5¦(before)¦ 6¦(near)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1.) …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • towards — especially BrE to.ward especially AmE preposition 1 moving, looking, or pointing in a particular direction: He noticed two policemen coming towards him. | All the windows face toward the river. | He was standing with his back towards me. 2 if you …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • towards*/*/*/ — [təˈwɔːdz] preposition 1) going, facing, or looking in a particular direction I saw Joanna hurrying towards me.[/ex] Victor was standing with his back towards me.[/ex] a path leading towards the river[/ex] 2) used when saying how you feel about… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • Towards — 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • towards — /təˈwɔdz / (say tuh wawdz), /tɔdz / (say tawdz) preposition 1. in the direction of (with reference to either motion or position): to walk towards the north. 2. with respect to; as regards: one s attitude towards a proposition. 3. nearly as late… …  

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