forwards

The word 'forwards' is a directional term with deep Germanic roots. Its core component, 'forward', emerged in Old English as 'foreweard', a transparent compound meaning "towards the front," built from 'fore' (a common Germanic preposition and adverb meaning "before" or "in front") and the suffix '-weard', which denoted direction or orientation. This suffix is related to the verb 'weorþan', meaning "to become," suggesting a sense of turning or moving towards a state. Over time, the '-weard' element evolved into the modern '-ward', used to form adjectives and adverbs of direction. The specific form 'forwards', with the adverbial '-s', developed by analogy with other directional adverbs like 'towards' and 'backwards', solidifying its function as an adverb indicating movement or orientation to the front.

The word is an indivisible adverb formed from the adjective 'forward' with the addition of the adverbial suffix '-s'. The core element 'forward' originates from Old English 'foreweard', a compound of 'fore' (before, in front) and '-weard' (directed towards, facing).