Where does “outwards” come from?
Outwards comes from Middle English outwardes, from Old English ūtweardes, a compound of ut- (out) and -weardes (toward a direction).
outwards (English): From the interior toward the exterior; in an...
Definitions
- From the interior toward the exterior; in an...
Ancestry of “outwards”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | outwardes | Outside one's home country; outwards; outbound;... |
| 2 | Old English | ūtweardes | — |
| 3 | Old English | ūtweard | — |
| 4 | Old English | -weard | Forming adjectives and nouns from adjectives or... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wardaz | turned; turned toward; facing; Alternative form... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |