different between witherward vs hitherward

English

Etymology

From Middle English witherward, from Old English wiþerweard (“contrary, adverse, hostile”), from Proto-Germanic *wiþrawardaz (“contrary, adverse, in opposition”); equivalent to wither (“against”) +? -ward. Cognate with Old High German widarwart (“witherward”), German widerwärtig (“adverse, repulsive”), Gothic ???????????????????????????????????????????? (wiþrawairþs, “witherward”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?w?ð?(?)w?(?)d/

Adjective

witherward (comparative more witherward, superlative most witherward)

1. Adverse, contrary.

2. Opposite, opposing; hostile.
   • 1852, The whole works of King Alfred the Great:

     [...] then appeared to me along the way by which I formerly came amid the darkness, as it were the brightness of a shining star, and the light was waxing more and more, and quickly hastening to me, and as soon as it came nigh me, then were scattered and away fled all the witherward ghosts, which formerly threatened me with their tongs, [...]

   at the witherward side of the year

   Witherward mishaps.

Translations

Adverb

witherward (comparative more witherward, superlative most witherward)

1. Contrary to, against.

Noun

witherward (uncountable)

1. Opposite; adversity, opposition; hostility
   • 1850, Henry Mills Alden, Harper's new monthly magazine: Volume 1, Issues 1-6:

     Nor, although be sung the "mighty stream of tendency" of this wondrous age, did he ever launch his poetic craft upon it, nor seem to see the witherward of its swift and awful stress.

   • 1912, American Chemical Society, Journal of the American Chemical Society: Volume 34, Issues 1-6:

     Nevertheless, he cannot be seriously opposed to scientific research as distinguished from technical research for the next four chapters deal with such theoretical subjects as "the question of the atom," "the witherward of matter," "the chemical interpretation of life" and "the beginning of things."

   • 1950, Thomas Hardy, The mayor of Casterbridge:

     They were those of the song he had sung when he arrived years before at the Three Mariners, a poor young man, adventuring for life and fortune, and scarcely knowing witherward: [...]

Anagrams

• withdrawer

English

Alternative forms

• hitherwards

Etymology

hither +? -ward

Adverb

hitherward (not comparable)

1. (archaic) Toward this place
   • 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 3, ch. IV, Happy

     Happiness, unhappiness: all that was but the wages thou hadst; thou hast spent all that, in sustaining thyself hitherward; not a coin of it remains with thee, it is all spent, eaten: and now thy work, where is thy work?

See also

• hither
• thitherward
• whitherward