froward

Etymology

From Middle English froward, fraward, equivalent to fro + -ward. Compare Old English fromweard, framweard (“turned away, having the back turned”).

adj

1. (archaic, literary) Disobedient, contrary, unmanageable; difficult to deal with; with an evil disposition.
   But in the meanwhile, for fear lest if he would wax never the better he would wax much the worse; and from gentle, smooth, sweet, and courteous, might wax angry, rough, froward, and sour, and thereupon be troublous and tedious to the world to make fair weather with; they give him fair words for the while and put him in good comfort, and let him for the rest take his own chance. 1553 (posth.), Thomas More, A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation, Book I, Chapter 14
   A froward child becomes an untoward youth, who turns a deaf ear to all the admonitions of an afflicted parent. 1816, George Crabb, English Synonymes Explained, London: Baldwin, Cradock and Joy, page 133
   'I owe much to Eomer,' said Theoden. 'Faithful heart may have froward tongue.' 1954, J. R. R. Tolkien, "The Two Towers"
   … which so incensed this old hag that she grew as froward and sullen as the doctor, … 2007, Peter Marshall, Mother Leakey and the Bishop: A Ghost Story, Oxford Univ. Press

prep

1. (obsolete) Away from.