Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Same as toward.
  • Toward the place in question; forward.
  • Same as toward, a., 1.

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

  • preposition See toward.

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

  • preposition Variant of toward.
  • adverb obsolete In the direction of something (indicated by context).
  • adjective obsolete Near; at hand; in state of preparation; toward.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From toward +‎ -s. See -s (Etymology 3)

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Examples

  • As illustrated in the case of the disengaging pallet, however, the motion is also towards the line of centers AB, and _towards_ the tooth as well, all of which will be seen by the dotted circles MM2 and NN2, representing the paths of the pallets.

    An Analysis of the Lever Escapement H. R. Playtner

  • Note the form of the exhortation, 'exercise thyself _towards_ godliness,' which involves the same thought as is expressed in Paul's other utterance of irrepressible aspiration and effort, 'Not as if I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after,' or as he had just said, 'press towards the mark,' in continual approximation to the ideal.

    Expositions of Holy Scripture Second Corinthians, Galatians, and Philippians Chapters I to End. Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy. Alexander Maclaren 1868

  • It is not simplicity _in_ Christ, but _towards_ Christ of which the Apostle is speaking; not a quality in Him, but a quality in _us_ towards Him.

    Expositions of Holy Scripture Second Corinthians, Galatians, and Philippians Chapters I to End. Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy. Alexander Maclaren 1868

  • _Sad as death, I am going towards the meadow, in order to my approach towards_ Sylvia, _the world affording no repose to me, but when I am where the dear charmer is_.

    Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister Aphra Behn 1664

  • The circumstance of the Niger's flowing towards the east, and its collateral points, did not, however, excite my surprise; for although I had left Europe in great hesitation on this subject, and rather believed that it ran in the contrary direction, I had made such frequent inquiries during my progress concerning this river, and received from negroes of different nations such clear and decisive assurance that its general course was _towards the rising sun_, as scarce left any doubt on my mind; and more especially as I knew that Major Houghton had collected similar information in the same manner.

    MacMillan's Reading Books Book V Anonymous

  • The circumstance of the Niger's flowing towards the east and its collateral points did not, however, excite my surprise; for although I had left Europe in great hesitation on this subject, and rather believed that it ran in the contrary direction, I had made such frequent inquiries during my progress concerning this river, and received from Negroes of different nations such clear and decisive assurances that its general course was _towards the rising sun_, as scarce left any doubt on my mind; and more especially, as I knew that Major Houghton had collected similar information in the same manner.

    Life and Travels of Mungo Park in Central Africa Mungo Park 1788

  • Niger's flowing towards the east did not excite my surprise, for although I had left Europe in great hesitation on this subject, I had received from the negroes clear assurances that its general course was _towards the rising sun_. "

    A Book of Discovery The History of the World's Exploration, From the Earliest Times to the Finding of the South Pole

  • Kemble), 155; ic þā lēode wāt gē wið fēond gē wið frēond fæste geworhte (_towards foe and friend_), 1865; hēold hēah-lufan wið hæleða brego (_cherished high love towards the prince of heroes_), 1955; wið ord and wið ecge ingang forstōd (_prevented entrance to spear-point and sword-edge_), 1550. b) _against, on, upon, in_: setton sīde scyldas ... wið þæs recedes weal (_against the wall of the hall_), 326; wið eorðan fæðm

    Beowulf Robert Sharp 1879

  • Kemble), 155; ic þâ leóde wât ge wið feónd ge wið freónd fäste geworhte (_towards foe and friend_), 1865; heóld heáh-lufan wið häleða brego (_cherished high love towards the prince of heroes_), 1955; wið ord and wið ecge ingang forstôd (_prevented entrance to spear-point and sword-edge_), 1550. b) _against, on, upon, in_: setton sîde scyldas ... wið þäs recedes weal (_against the wall of the hall_), 326; wið eorðan fäðm

    Beowulf Robert Sharp 1879

  • But the thing uttered by the speaker I strain towards is still not quite the story of what is going on; it is more reflexive than that, because as a poet I am in fact straining towards a strain, seeking repose in the stability conferred by a musically satisfying order of sounds.

    Nobel Lectures-Literature 1995 1996

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