Homward

Part of speech: adverb, adjective

Definitions

1. Heading in the direction of one's home or place of residence, as in a journey back after time away
2. Moving toward the place where one lives, especially at the end of a trip or a day's work
3. Directed or traveling toward home, whether describing a path, a journey, or the manner of going

Etymology: Homward is formed from "home" plus the suffix "-ward," which comes from Old English "-weard" and carries the sense "in the direction of." So the word is simply "home" with a directional ending, the same pattern found in "eastward," "backward," and "seaward." Both parts are native English, and nothing about it was borrowed or coined for a special purpose. Its use goes back to Old English, where "hām" (home) and "-weard" were already combined with the same sense of heading toward a place. The modern form descends from that construction, and the adverb and adjective uses developed from it in the usual way: "the ship sailed homward" describes motion, while "the homward journey" describes a path. The word has stayed close to its literal meaning for centuries, with few surprises along the way.

Synonyms: homeward

Antonyms: outward