toward

prep

1. (US)In the direction of.

   “She moved toward the door.”

   “[A]Nd when Balaam ſawe that it pleaſed the LORD to bleſſe Iſrael, hee went not, as at other times to ſeeke foꝛ inchantments, but hee ſet his face toward the wilderneſſe.”

   “Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.”

2. (US)In relation to (someone or something).

   “What are your feelings toward him?”

   “So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye ſhalbe euill toward his bꝛother, and toward the wife of his boſome, and towards the remnant of his childꝛen which he ſhall leaue:”

3. (US)For the purpose of attaining (an aim).

   “I'm saving money toward retirement.”

4. (US)Located close to; near (a time or place).

   “Our place is over toward the station.”

   “I am toward nine years older since I left you, yet that is the least of my alterations; […]”

adj

1. (US, not-comparable)Yielding, pliant; docile; ready or apt to learn; not froward.
2. (US, dated, not-comparable)Approaching, coming near; impending; present, at hand.

   “Do you heare ought (Sir) of a Battell toward.”

   “On the morrow, after mass, our Lord Abbot [Samson of Tottington] orders the Cellerarius to send off his carpenters to demolish the said structure brevi manu, and lay up the wood in safe keeping. Old Dean Herbert, hearing what was toward, comes tottering along hither, to plead humbly for himself and his mill.”

3. (US, archaic, not-comparable, obsolete)Promising, likely.

   “Clif[ford] Why that is ſpoken like a toward Prince.”

   “My Miſtreſs had a Daughter of nine Years old, a Child of toward Parts for her Age, very dextrous at her Needle, and ſkilful in dreſſing her Baby.”

4. (US, not-comparable, obsolete)Future; to-come.

   “But ear that wiſhed day his beame diſcloſd, / He either enuying my toward good, / Or of him ſelfe to treaſon ill diſpoſd / One day vnto me came in friendly mood, / And told for ſecret how he vnderſtood / […]”

name

1. A coastal village south of Dunoon, Argyll and Bute council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NS1367).
2. A surname, apparently taken from the place name.