FromMiddle Englishwestward, fromOld Englishwestweard.
westward (comparativemorewestward,superlativemostwestward)
- Lying toward thewest.
c.1599–1602 (date written),William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, inMr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, andEd[ward] Blount, published1623,→OCLC,[Act I, scene i]:[…] yond same star that’swestward from the pole
- Moving ororiented toward the west.
- 1783,Edward Gibbon,The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London: W. Strahan & T. Cadell, Volume 3, Chapter 17, p. 8,[3]
- Those who steer theirwestward course through the middle of thePropontis, may at oncedescry the high lands of Thrace and Bithynia, and never lose sight of the lofty summit of Mount Olympus, covered with eternal snows.
1896,A. B. Paterson, “Black Swans”, inThe Man From Snowy River and Other Verses[4], London: Macmillan, page113:Oh! ye wild black swans, ’twere a world of wonder
For a while to join in yourwestward flight,
westward (comparativemorewestward,superlativemostwestward)
- Toward the west.
- ridewestward.
c.1728,George Berkeley, “Verses, on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America”, inThe Works of George Berkeley, D.D.[7], London: Thomas Tegg, published1837, page394:Westward the course of empire takes its way;
- 1857,John Henry Hopkins Jr., “We Three Kings” (Christmas carol),We Three Kings
- O star of wonder, star of night,
- Star with royal beauty bright,
- Westward leading, still proceeding,
- Guide us to thy perfect light.
westward (uncountable)
- The western region or countries; the west.
1742,Daniel Defoe,A Tour thro’ the Whole Island of Great Britain[8], London: J. Osborn, et al,Volume 1, Letter 6, pp. 297-298:I name this to explain what I said before, of Ships being embay’d and lost here: this is when, coming from theWestward, they omit to keep a goodOffing, or are taken short by contrary Winds[…]
FromOld Englishwestweard; equivalent towest +-ward.
westward
- westward
