1. Towards bed, in the direction of bed.
c. 1530. J. Rhodes, Bk. Nurture, in Babees Bk. (1868), 69. When your mayster intendeth to bedward.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 352. Others on the grass Coucht … Or Bedward ruminating.
1820. Scott, Monast., xiv. The signal to move bedward.
1834. Lamb, Wks. (1852), 181. When the dark night comes and they are creeping bedwards.
† 2. Towards bedtime; just before going to bed.
c. 1430. Diatorie, in Babees Bk. (1868), 56. Use fier bi þe morewe, & to bedward at eue.
c. 1515. Barclay, Eglog., iii. (1570), B vj/1. I dranke to bedwarde (as is my common gise).
1615. Markham, Eng. Housew., II. i. (1668), 47. Drink of it at night to bedward.
a. 1661. Fuller, in H. Smith’s Wks. (1867), I. 20. These sermons have been used as a handmaid to prayer bedward in some families.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 355. That may be done over night, last to bed-ward.
