westward

English

Etymology

From Middle English westward, from Old English westweard.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈwɛst.wɚd/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈwɛst.wəd/
• Hyphenation: west‧ward

Adjective

westward (comparative more westward, superlative most westward)

1. Lying toward the west.
   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     […] yond same star that’s westward from the pole

   • 1895, Thomas Hardy, Jude the Obscure‎, Part 1, Chapter 3:

     […] about a quarter of an hour before the time of sunset the westward clouds parted […]

   • 1974, Lawrence Durrell, “Outremer”, in Monsieur‎, New York: Pocket Books, published 1976, page 43:

     It stands high up on the westward slopes of the Alpilles […]

2. Moving or oriented 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,

     Those who steer their westward course through the middle of the Propontis, may at once descry 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”, in The Man From Snowy River and Other Verses‎, London: Macmillan, page 113:

     Oh! ye wild black swans, ’twere a world of wonder
     For a while to join in your westward flight,

   • 1942, Neville Shute, chapter 5, in Pied Piper‎, New York: William Morrow:

     They moved out on the westward road again.

Adverb

westward (comparative more westward, superlative most westward)

1. Toward the west.

   ride westward.

   • 1590, Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine the Great‎, London, act V, scene 6:

     Looke here my boies, see what a world of ground,
     Lies westward from the midst of Cancers line,
     Vnto the rising of this earthly globe,

   • c. 1728, George Berkeley, “Verses, on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America”, in The Works of George Berkeley, D.D.‎, London: Thomas Tegg, published 1837, page 394:

     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.

Translations

Noun

westward (uncountable)

1. The western region or countries; the west.
   • 1742, Daniel Defoe, A Tour thro’ the Whole Island of Great Britain‎, 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 the Westward, they omit to keep a good Offing, or are taken short by contrary Winds […]

   • 1896, Joseph Conrad, chapter IV, in An Outcast of the Islands, London: T. Fisher Unwin , →OCLC, part I, page 46:

     You will live quietly there till I come back from my next cruise to the westward.

Middle English

Etymology

From Old English westweard; equivalent to west +‎ -ward.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɛstward/

Adverb

westward

1. westward

Coordinate terms

• estward

Descendants

• English: westward
• Scots: wastert