Obs. exc. arch. Forms: see FORTH and -WARD. [OE. forðweard (= OS. forðwerd, forðwardes), f. FORTH adv. + -WARD.] A. adv.
1. Of place: Towards a place or part in front or before, onward(s, forward. To be forthward: to be on one’s way. To set forthward: to help on.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 51. And tech me hu ic scal swimmen forðward.
c. 1205. Lay., 5369.
| Feouwer daies fulle | |
| forð ward [c. 1275 forþwardes] heo wenden. |
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 245. Þo þys ost al ȝare was, vorþward vaste hii drowe.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 315. Drawe þe boon forþward.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. xciii. (1869), 51. Me thinketh riht longe þat j ne were forthward and set in þe wey.
c. 1450. Life of St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6097.
| He went forthward with þe wayne, | |
| And to help he was full bayne. |
1530. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), V. 300–1. Also to the peir, if it go furthwardes, xl s.
1560. Rolland, The Court of Venus, IV. 659. Fordward I fuir.
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 39. Besyddis yat we set furthwart, be all meanis [printed meains] possible ye proffeit, of our nyghbour. Ibid., 205 b. Gif thou preiss forduart.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., V. iv. § 35. That unity and concord in opinions, namely, in such things as doe concern Our Religion, may encrease & goe forthward.
1768. A. Ross, Helenore, 8.
| For ’tweish twa hillocks the poor lambie lies, | |
| An’ ay fell forthert, as it shoope to rise. |
b. Prominently, in public.
1504. Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, III. lix. He wyll also apere forthwarde, and haue the syghte and experyens of many thynges by his outwarde senses.
2. Of time: a. (OE. only.) Continually, prospectively. b. For the future onwards. Also, ay, (from) hence, now, then forthward; from that or this day or time forthward.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. l[i]. 78 (Gr.).
| Þæt min ȝehernes hehtful weorþe | |
| on ȝefean bliðse forðweard to þe! |
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., xxi. (Z.), 125. Ðis ȝemet [the imperative mood] sprecð forþwerd.
c. 1200. Ormin, 5226. Þatt itt [þatt twifalde gast] beo nu forrþwarrd inn me.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 14904 (Fairf.).
| Of his passion þat is sa harde | |
| þat ȝe sal here now forþwarde. |
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2605.
| & if y þys day forþward spare Sarasyn ouþer torke, | |
| for euere mot y þan for-fare for my dayes werke. |
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., l. 225 (Harl. MS.). & þere for, fadir, dothe to me fro hennys forþeward as þe likithe.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6929.
| And þare he ordayned þe bischop se | |
| Ay forthward forto be. |
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1885), 147. Wich wages shall than forthwarde cesse.
1541. Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 13. From that time furthward.
B. adj. = FORWARD a.
c. 1470. Henry the Minstrel, Wallace, III. 45.
| Adam, eldest, was growand in curage; | |
| Forthward, rycht fayr, auchtene yer of age. | |
| Ibid., X. 77. | |
| Quha couth behald thair awfull lordly wult, | |
| So weill beseyn, so forthwart, stern, and stult. |
1881. Duffield, Don Quix., II. 560. Don Quixote went very pensive on his forthward way, pondering over the sorry jest which the enchanters had played upon him in turning his lady Dulcinea into the ill form of the village lass.
Hence Forthwardly adv.
c. 1470. Henry the Minstrel, Wallace, X. 653.
| So forthwartlye thai pressyt in the thrang, | |
| Befor the king maid sloppis thaim amang. |
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clxxxvii. 189. Richarde the yonge duke, toke vpon hym the rule of his owne signory, and grewe & encreased forthwardly.
