centrewardcenterwardn.adv.adj.
/ˈsɛntəwəd/, U.S. /ˈsɛn(t)ərwərd/ A. n.
The part or area near the centre. Only in prepositional phrases, esp. to (the) centreward. rare.
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a1632 T. Taylor Princ. Christian Pract. (1635) 378 Both naturall and supernaturall motion is swifter to the center-ward.
1837 Amer. Railroad Jrnl. 8 July 424/2 The vital powers of the plant are not diminished by forming juices for secretion on centreward.
1981 ‘C. J. Cherryh’ Pride of Chanur iii. 32 If they all stay to centerward..we could just jump out again.
B. adv.
1. Towards or in the direction of the centre; = centrewards adv. 1.
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1838 Shepherd 27 Jan. 242/2 They call it going centre-ward. Voltaire says, it is the property of matter to go centre-ward—of light, to go from the centre.
1955 Warren (Pa.) Observer 22 Sept. (advt.) Its two doors are extra wide and the seat backs fold centerward for easy access to the rear seat.
2008 Christian Sci. Monitor (Nexis) 11 Sept. 8 Higher ‘land dues’ on prime sites draw development centerward, reversing sprawl.
2. Towards the political centre; in the direction of political moderation; = centrewards adv. 2.
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1965 Jrnl. Inter-Amer. Stud. 7 265 The unusual consensus of values that existed between a Christian Democracy traveling leftward and an Aprismo traveling centerward.
1979 Odessa (Texas) Amer. 16 Jan. 6 a/3 Ronald Reagan—by far the best-known candidate, personally well liked and moving imperceptibly centerward as the party's center warms to him.
1997 Amer. Hist. Rev. 102 755 The Labour Party in Great Britain might be cited as an example of a power-seeking movement that has veered centerward and lost its socialist being in the process.
2001 Australian (Nexis) 22 Jan. 12 He was instrumental in pushing the party centreward even before he was elected.
C. adj.
1. Occurring or moving towards or near the centre; that is situated or positioned near the centre. Cf. centrewards adj. 1.
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1857 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington) 22 May The comet's capability to press itself outward to its aphelion..making the distance through which it is possible for it to return from its centreward tour not a single iota greater [etc.].
1898 Jrnl. School Geogr. 2 16 Being presumably hot within, and therefore yielding easily to unequal centerward forces.
1916 E. McLennan Cosmical Evol. (ed. 2) viii.103 The centerward spiral movement of irregular flocculi through a rarer atmosphere.
1974 Calif. Stud. Classical Antiq. 6 198 The diagonals of the meeting arms form an acute angle pointing toward Shapur and balance the centerward diagonals on the right side.
2004 W. Scott Baldridge Geol. Amer. Southwest iv. 109 The dome formed mainly by centerward motion of rock units along listric faults.
2. That tends or moves towards the political centre. Cf. centrewards adj. 2.
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1939 N.Y. Times 15 Jan. e3/4 (heading) House vote on relief funds is taken as a proof of centerward trend.
1973 Bluefield (W. Va.) Daily Tel. 16 Dec. 4 a/3 Despite Rocky's center-ward move,..the fight would take on a left-right tone.
1980 Economist 8 Nov. 13/1 Mr. Reagan's centreward shift, his affability..have exorcised in most American voters the belief that he is a dangerous right-wing nut.
2006 U.S. News & World Rep. (Nexis) 30 Oct. Cameron's centerward drive contrasts sharply with American conservatism, where the Republican Party is fighting the midterm congressional elections by lurching even further to the right.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.adv.adj.a1632