Search the Dictionary

Being on, or towards, the van, or front. "The vanward frontier." De Quincey.

The fore part; van. [Obs.] Since we have the vaward of the day. Shak.

Taking one's own way; disobedient; froward; perverse; willful. My wife is in a wayward mood. Shak. Wayward beauty doth not fancy move. Fairfax. Wilt thou forgive the wayward thought Keble. -- Way"ward*ly, adv. -- Way"ward*ness, n.

A kind of fine pottery, the most remarkable being what is called jasper, either white, or colored throughout the body, and capable of being molded into the most delicate forms, so that fine and minute bas-reliefs like cameos were made of it, fit even for being set as jewels.

Lying toward the west. Yond same star that's westward from the pole. Shak.

Toward the west; as, to ride or sail westward. Westward the course of empire takes its way. Berkeley.

In a westward direction.

See Swarf.

In what direction; toward what or which place. R. of Brunne. Whitherward to turn for a good course of life was by no means too apparent. Carlyle.

The point or side from which the wind blows; as, to ply to the windward; -- opposed to Ant: leeward. To lay an anchor to the windward, a figurative expression, signifying to adopt precautionary or anticipatory measures for success or security.

An officer of the forest, whose duty it was to guard the woods.

A genus of ferns, one species of which (Woodwardia radicans) is a showy plant in California, the Azores, etc.

In wool; with woolen raiment next the skin. [Obs.]

A wearing of woolen clothes next the skin as a matter of penance. [Obs.] Their . . . woolward-going, and rising at midnight. Tyndale.

Aware; wary. [Obs.] "Be ywar, and his way shun." Piers Plowman.

-, gi-, Goth. ga-), which, as a prefix, made no essential addition to the meaning, as in aware. (5) French à (L. ad to), as in abase, achieve. (6) L. a, ab, abs, from, as in avert. (7) Greek insep. prefix a without, or privative, not, as in abyss, atheist; akin to E. un-.

On the sea; at sea; toward the sea.

Toward the back or rear; backward. "Therewith aback she started." Chaucer.

Behind; toward the stern from; as, abaft the wheelhouse. Abaft the beam. See under Beam.

Borne lower than usual, as a fess; also, having the ends of the wings turned downward towards the point of the shield.