-ward

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-ward suffix denoting direction, orig. (and so only in OE.) appended to local advs. (e.g. hāmweard homeward; a second stage is repr. by to heavenward, etc., followed by forms lacking the prep. (e.g. earthward, Godward). OE. -weard = OS. -ward, OHG. -wart, f. Gmc. *-warð, var. of *werb- :- IE. *wert- turn (cf. L. vertere).

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