-wards
Pronunciation
- IPA: /wÉ™(r)dz/
Origin
From Old English -weardes, a variant of -weard; see -ward for more.
Full definition of -wards
Suffix
- Forming adverbs denoting course or direction to, or motion or tendency toward, as in "backwards", "towards", etc.
Usage notes
The choice between -ward and -wards is individual or dialectal; both are widely used.
Adverbs ending in -wards (Anglo-Saxon -weardes) and some other adverbs, such as besides, betimes, since Old English sithens, etc., originated as genitive forms used adverbially.