Where does “henceforward” come from?
Henceforward derives from Middle English henceforth combined with Old English foreward, itself composed of Old English fore- meaning "before" and the Old English -ward suffix, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European per- meaning "forward" or "through."
henceforward (English): from now on; from this time on
Definitions
- from now on; from this time on
Ancestry of “henceforward”, step by step
henceforward traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English forward
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | forward | Toward the front or at the front; Without... |
| 2 | Middle English | foreward | forward; agreement, contract, treaty, bargain,... |
| 3 | Old English | foreweard | forward, fore, former, early, prior; an... |
| 4 | Old English | weard | guard; guard, the action of looking out for... |
| 5 | Old English | ōra | ore, unwrought metal |
| 6 | Old English | ēar | sea, ocean; grave, earth |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | ahaz | ear |
| 8 | Proto-Finnic | ahtas | narrow, cramped |
| 9 | Proto-Baltic | anśtas | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énǵʰus | narrow, tight |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enǵʰ- | to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;... |