Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “eastward” come from?

Eastward comes from Old English ēasteweard, a directional compound combining ēast with weard meaning toward the east.

eastward (English): The direction or area lying to the east; Situated...

Definitions

  1. The direction or area lying to the east; Situated...

Ancestry of “eastward”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishestwardeastward
2Old Englishēastweard—
3Old English-weardForming adjectives and nouns from adjectives or...
4Proto-Germanicwardazturned; turned toward; facing; Alternative form...
5Proto-Germanicwerþazworthy, valuable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwert-to turn, to rotate
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “eastward”

  • eastwardly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →