Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Appearing likely to succeed; promising.
  • adjective Advantageous; favorable.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Ready to do or learn; apt; docile; tractable; compliant with duly.
  • Forward; promising; precocious; early as regards season or state of advancement.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Same as toward, a., 2.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Promising, propitious.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From toward +‎ -ly.

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Examples

  • Our young master, a fine towardly gentleman, God bless him, and hopeful; why? he is heir apparent to the right worshipful, to the right honourable, &c.

    Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

  • What wants there to such a towardly and pregnant soil, but wise and faithful labourers, to make a knowing people, a nation of prophets, of sages, and of worthies?

    Areopagitica 2007

  • Marry, and I am glad of it: I am like to have a towardly Scholar of you.

    The Compleat Angler 2007

  • What wants there to such a towardly and pregnant soil, but wise and faithful labourers, to make a knowing people, a nation of prophets, of sages, and of worthies?

    Areopagitica 2007

  • I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit — give thee thy due — and one that knows what belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well: good parts in thee.

    The Life of Timon of Athens 2004

  • Nephew Emanuell, with Troopes of faire and towardly force, who were honoutably welcommed and entertained by the Duke, but much more by the Dutchesse, because shee was their sister in Law.

    The Decameron 2004

  • Quintus Fulvius, of towardly yeares and apprehension, sent him to

    The Decameron 2004

  • _Stow_ in his _Annals_, calleth him, a most valiant and towardly Gentleman.

    The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687) William Winstanley

  • I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit, give thee thy due, and one that knows what belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well: good parts in thee.

    Act III. Scene I. Timon of Athens 1914

  • My son Johnny was at the grammar school, and a towardly child.

    The World's Greatest Books — Volume 08 — Fiction Various 1910

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