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towards [towards 词源字典]: towards: [OE] The suffix -ward or -wards, which underlies towards, forward, and a host of other English adverbs and adjectives, comes from a prehistoric Germanic *-warth. This in turn goes back to the Indo-European base *wert- ‘turn’ (source also of English convert, version, etc) – so etymologically, towards denotes ‘turning to’ something.
=> convert, version[towards etymology, towards origin, 英语词源]
afterwards (adv.): c. 1300, from afterward (q.v.) + adverbial genitive -s; originally a Northern form.
backwards (adv.): 1510s, from backward with adverbial genitive. Figurative phrase bend over backwards is recorded from 1901.
forwards (adv.): c. 1400, from forward (adv.) + adverbial genitive -s. British English until mid-20c. preserved the distinction between forward and forwards, the latter expressing "a definite direction viewed in contrast with other directions." In American English, however, forward prevails in all senses since Webster (1832) damned forwards as "a corruption."
onwards (adv.): see onward.
stewardship (n.): "position or responsibilities of a steward," mid-15c., from steward (n.) + -ship. Specific ecclesiastical sense of "responsible use of resources in the service of God" is from 1899.
towards (adv.): Old English toweards, from toweard (adj.) "coming, facing, approaching" (see toward) + adverbial genitive ending.