King James Bible Dictionary

FOR'WARD, adverb [ Latin versus; directed to the forepart. Forwards is also used, but it is a corruption.]

Toward a part or place before or in front; onward; progressively; opposed to backward. Go forward; move forward He ran backward and forward

In a ship, forward denotes toward the forepart.

FOR'WARD, adjective

1. Near or at the forepart; in advance of something else; as the forward gun in a ship, or the forward ship in a fleet; the forward horse in a team.

2. Ready; prompt; strongly inclined.

Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. Galatians 2:10.

3. Ardent; eager; earnest; violent.

Or lead the forward youth to noble war.

4. Bold; confident; less reserved or modest than is proper; in an ill sense; as, the boy is too forward for his years.

5. Advanced beyond the usual degree; advanced for the season. The grass or the grain is forward or forward for the season; we have a forward spring.

6. Quick; hasty; too ready. Be not forward to speak in public. Prudence directs that we be not too forward to believe current reports.

7. Anterior; fore.

Let us take the instant by the forward top.

8. Advanced; not behindhand.

FOR'WARD, verb transitive

1. To advance; to help onward; to promote; as, to forward a good design.

2. To accelerate; to quicken; to hasten; as, to forward the growth of a plant; to forward one in improvement.

3. To send forward; to send towards the place of destination; to transmit; as, to forward a letter or dispatches.

FOR'WARDED, participle passive Advanced; promoted; aided in progress; quickened; sent onward; transmitted.

FOR'WARDER, noun He that promotes, or advanced in progress.

FOR'WARDING, participle present tense Advancing; promoting; aiding in progress; accelerating in growth; sending onwards; transmitting.

FOR'WARDLY, adverb Eagerly; hastily; quickly.

FOR'WARDNESS, noun

1. Cheerful readiness; promptness. It expresses more than willingness. We admire the forwardness of christians in propagating the gospel.

2. Eagerness; ardor. It is sometimes difficult to restrain the forwardness of youth.

3. Boldness; confidence; assurance; want of due reserve or modesty.

In France it is usual to bring children into company, and cherish in them, from their infancy, a kind of forwardness and assurance.

4. A state of advance beyond the usual degree; as the forwardness of spring or of corn.