-wards

1. variant of -ward:

   towards; afterwards.

-wards

suffix forming adverbs

1. indicating direction towards Compare -ward

   to sail shorewards

   a step backwards

Spelling Note

See -ward.

Word History and Origins

Origin of -wards¹

Middle English; Old English -weardes, equivalent to -weard toward ( ward ) + -es -s ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of -wards¹

Old English -weardes towards