FromOld Englishupweardes, equivalent toup +-ward.
upward (notcomparable)
- In a direction from lower to higher; toward a higher place; in a course toward the source or origin.
We ranupward.
1594–1597,Richard Hooker, edited byJ[ohn] S[penser],Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Will[iam] Stansby[for Matthew Lownes], published1611,→OCLC,(please specify the page):Looking inward, we are stricken dumb; lookingupward, we speak and prevail.
1918,W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXIII, inThe Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.:The Bobbs-Merrill Company,→OCLC:If the afternoon was fine they strolled together in the park, very slowly, and with pauses to draw breath wherever the ground slopedupward. The slightest effort made the patient cough.
- In the upper parts; above.
1667,John Milton, “Book I”, inParadise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […];[a]nd by Robert Boulter […];[a]nd Matthias Walker, […],→OCLC; republished asParadise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […],1873,→OCLC:Dagon his name, sea monster,upward man, / And downward fish.
- Yet more; indefinitely more; above; over.
in the upper parts; above
upward (uncountable)
- (obsolete) The upper part; the top.
c.1603–1606,William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, inMr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, andEd[ward] Blount, published1623,→OCLC,[Act V, scene iii]:From the extremestupward of thy head.
upward (comparativemoreupward,superlativemostupward)
- Directed toward a higher place.
withupward eye; withupward course
moving up, directed toward a higher place
