Aftward

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In or toward the back section of a ship or aircraft relative to its forward direction
2. Moving in the direction of the stern on a vessel or the rear of an airplane
3. Situated or directed backward on a boat or plane, opposite the front or bow

Etymology: "Aftward" is a plain compound: the adverb "aft," meaning toward the back or stern of a ship, with the suffix "-ward," which turns a word into a direction of movement, as in "homeward" or "backward." Put together, the pair describes motion toward the rear, and the word's sense comes straight from its two parts. The base, "aft," is the more interesting half. It belongs to nautical vocabulary and originally located things at the stern of a vessel, so a sailor would speak of the cabin "aft" or the wind blowing from "aft." From there it spread into general use as a term for the back end of anything. "Aftward" follows the same logic, carrying that rearward orientation into movement.

Synonyms: backward, rearward, behind

Antonyms: forward, ahead, frontward