English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English fromward, framward, from Old English framweard (about to depart, departing, doomed to die; with his back turned, adjective) and framweardes (away from, adverb), equivalent to from +‎ -ward. Compare froward.

Adjective edit

fromward (comparative more fromward, superlative most fromward)

  1. Turned away; averse.
  2. (now dialect, Southern England, Midlands, West Country) Leaning or listing away from; distant from; on the right-hand side; on the opposite side.

Usage notes edit

Traditionally used in ploughing (or similarly with harvest-field teams) in which the driver walks on the left-hand side; hence the right-hand side being linked with the off-hand or opposite side.

Adverb edit

fromward (comparative more fromward, superlative most fromward)

  1. (now dialect, Southern England, Midlands, West Country) Forth; forward.

Noun edit

fromward (plural fromwards)

  1. (now dialect, Southern England, Midlands, West Country) A cleaving tool; an iron instrument with a blade set at right angles on a short handle, used for splitting laths or rails.

Synonyms edit

Preposition edit

fromward

  1. (now dialect, Southern England, Midlands, West Country) From; away from.

Synonyms edit

Antonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

References edit