I. ˈtō-ərd, ˈtȯ(-ə)rd adjective
Etymology: Middle English toward, from Old English tōweard facing, imminent, from tō, preposition, to + -weard -ward
Date: before 12th century
1. also to·wards ˈtō-ərdz, ˈtȯ(-ə)rdz
[Middle English towardes, from Old English tōweardes, preposition, toward, from tōweard, adjective]
a. : coming soon : imminent
b. : happening at the moment : afoot
2.
a. obsolete : quick to learn : apt
b. : propitious , favoring
a toward breeze
II. preposition
or to·wards ˈtō-ərd(z), ˈtȯ(-ə)rd(z), tə-ˈwȯrd(z), ˈtwȯrd(z), ˈtwōrd(z)
Date: before 12th century
1. : in the direction of
driving toward town
2.
a. : along a course leading to
a long stride toward disarmament
b. : in relation to
an attitude toward life
3.
a. : at a point in the direction of : near
a cottage somewhere up toward the lake
b. : in such a position as to be in the direction of
your back was toward me
4. : not long before
toward the end of the afternoon
5.
a. : in the way of help or assistance in
did all he could toward raising campaign funds
b. : for the partial payment of
proceeds go toward the establishment of a scholarship