westward

Etymology

From Middle English westward, from Old English westweard.

adj

1. Lying toward the west.
   […] about a quarter of an hour before the time of sunset the westward clouds parted […] 1895, Thomas Hardy, Jude the Obscure, Part 1, Chapter 3
   It stands high up on the westward slopes of the Alpilles […] 1974, Lawrence Durrell, “Outremer”, in Monsieur, New York: Pocket Books, published 1976, page 43
2. Moving or oriented toward the west.
   1783, Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London: W. Strahan & T. Cadell, Volume 3, Chapter 17, p. 8, Those who steer their westward course through the middle of the Propontis, may at once descry the high lands of Thrace and Bithynia, and never lose sight of the lofty summit of Mount Olympus, covered with eternal snows.
   Oh! ye wild black swans, ’twere a world of wonder For a while to join in your westward flight, 1896, A. B. Paterson, “Black Swans”, in The Man From Snowy River and Other Verses, London: Macmillan, page 113
   They moved out on the westward road again. 1942, Neville Shute, chapter 5, in Pied Piper, New York: William Morrow

adv

1. Toward the west.
   ride westward.
   Looke here my boies, see what a world of ground, Lies westward from the midst of Cancers line, Vnto the rising of this earthly globe, 1590, Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine the Great, London, act V, scene 6
   Westward the course of empire takes its way; c. 1728, George Berkeley, “Verses, on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America”, in The Works of George Berkeley, D.D., London: Thomas Tegg, published 1837, page 394
   1857, John Henry Hopkins Jr., “We Three Kings” (Christmas carol), O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.

noun

1. The western region or countries; the west.
   I name this to explain what I said before, of Ships being embay’d and lost here: this is when, coming from the Westward, they omit to keep a good Offing, or are taken short by contrary Winds […] 1742, Daniel Defoe, A Tour thro’ the Whole Island of Great Britain, London: J. Osborn, et al, Volume 1, Letter 6, pp. 297-298