| 释义 |
Godward, adv. and a.|ˈgɒdwəd|
[f. god n. + -ward.]
A. adv. In early use to Godward (see toward).
1. Of progress, tendency, etc.: Towards God; in the direction of God. † Also of love, affection, etc.: Directed towards God.
1401Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 83 To tille folk to God-ward, I holde it no theft. c1420Lydg. Assemb. Gods 917 Louers of Cryst, confounders of yll, And all that to godward yeue her good wyll. c1510More Picus Wks. 7/1 The litle affection of an olde man or an olde woman to godwarde [etc.]. a1592H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 489 Christ is the sole commander, To lead to God-ward. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxix. §2 Their colde affection to Godward made their presents to bee little woorth. a1711Ken Sion Poet. Wks. 1721 IV. 410 My soul..Godward springs for God alone. 1842Mrs. Browning Grk. Chr. Poets Poems 1890 V. 153 As if, being in the world, their tendency was Godward. 1884Congregational Year Bk. 82 Anticipations of a nature struggling Godward.
2. In relation to God; with respect or reference to God.
1390Gower Conf. I. 71 She, which was all honeste To godward..At night vnto the temple wente. c1440Jacob's Well (E.E.T.S.) 168 A-forn alle oþere sorwys, þi sorwe muste be al opyn to god-ward. 1531Tindale Exp. 1 John (1537) 3 But to Godwarde is ther no satisfaction saue fayth in Christes bloude. 1612T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 12 They hope they may haue as good hearts as the best to god-ward. 1676Allen Address Nonconf. 91 So far as there is any ground to hope well of them in reference to their state Godward. 1728Swift Let. to Pope 26 July, Wks. 1841 II. 617 You are the most temperate man Godward, and the most intemperate yourselfward of most I have known. 1824Scott Redgauntlet Let. xi, His was a sudden call,..no time to set his house in order: weel prepared Godward, no doubt, which is the root of the matter. 1868Gladstone Juv. Mundi ix. (1869) 376 All other functions of our nature, outside the domain of the life to god-ward.
B. adj. Tending or directed towards God.
1861Westm. Rev. Apr. 533 Had he [Cromwell] been merely religious,—had the Godward tendency absorbed his being, and [etc.]. 1867Monsell Our New Vicar 84 ‘Priest’ and ‘Altar’ speak of his God-ward office: ‘Minister’ and ‘Lord's Table’ refer to his man-ward ministrations. 1883H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spir. W. (ed. 8) 117 Every Godward aspiration of the soul. |