[In the 17–18th c. the suffix- ward(s was often appended to phrases like this way, that way, our way, etc., preceded or not by to or from. (See -WARD 4, -WARDS 2, 5.) In printed books it was common to join the suffix to the word way (either with or without hyphen), but to leave the preceding words of the phrase without hyphen, so that way-ward(s or wayward(s has a fallacious appearance of being a word.
1599. Warn. Faire Women, II. 548. To creep that way-ward whilst I live ile trye.
1662. Pepys, Diary, 7 May. He left the Queene and fleete in the Bay of Biscay, coming this wayward.
1682. Wheler, Journ. Greece, IV. 317. Turning back to our way-ward, we had the view of the highest Part of Parnassus. Ibid., VI. 474. Not very far from hence we cross’d a stream that ran from this Way-wards thither.
1686. F. Spence, trans. Varilla’s Ho. Medicis, 169. He invited their children to a match of hunting that way-wards where he was to embarque.
1770. H. Walpole, Lett. to G. Montagu, 31 March. I depend upon seeing you whenever you return this wayward.]
