forwardnessn.
1. † b. Furtherance, advancement. Obsolete.
a. The state or condition of being forward; advancement towards completion or perfection.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > [noun] > state of advancement towards completion
towardness1475
forwardness1523
advancement1540
onwardness1548
towardliness1553
prolation1610
forwardliness1647
mid-career1720
advolution1883
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xxviii. 41 Whan this croisy was in gret forwardnesse, for there was no spekyng but therof.
1605 M. Drayton Poems sig. Ee6v Whilst in so faire forwardnes it was.
1661 A. Marvell Let. 18 May in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 24 That Bill wch is in good forwardnesse to be presented to the House.
1711 London Gaz. No. 4836/1 Funds..which are hitherto in no forwardness of being compleat.
1779 T. Forrest Voy. New Guinea 298 The arts are in no kind of forwardness here.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §129 Mr. Jessop had..got other things in forwardness that had been committed to his charge.
1851 A. Helps Compan. Solitude xii. 242 Till it [a work] is in some state of forwardness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > promotion or help forward > [noun]
filsteOE
promotion1425
furtherancec1440
further1526
speeding1530
forwardness1591
lift1622
push1655
fartherance1785
leg up1871
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [noun] > rise in prosperity, power, or rank > advancement or promotion of a person
furtheringc1000
vancement1303
advancementc1325
promotion?a1425
vauncingc1426
advance1440
furtherancec1440
preference1456
prefermentc1465
forwardness1591
preferency1602
motion1641
promoval1653
the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > furtherance > [noun]
furtheringc1000
advancementc1325
nourishingc1325
speedingc1400
promotion1425
vauncingc1426
furtherancec1440
expedition1445
preferment1454
further1526
profection1533
towardliness1553
maturation1584
comforting1605
forwarding1635
advance1642
promotement1661
forwardness1741
fosterage1816
1591 Troublesome Raigne Iohn ii. sig. C3 Thus Fortune (Lords) acts to your forwardnes.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela IV. xxxv. 209 If you should [chuse to be divorced from me], I will give your Wishes all the Forwardness that I honourably can.
2. (Unusual) advancement towards maturity:
a. of a child.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > age > maturity > [noun] > early maturity
precocity1606
timeliness1613
precociousness1681
forwardness1693
prematurity1762
1693 Humours & Conversat. Town 21 Parents..bring them to a bold Confidence..and this they miscall Wit, and hopeful forwardness.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 95. ⁋4 The Satisfaction the Father took in the Forwardness of his Son.
b. of a crop, the season, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > crop or crops > [noun] > earliness of maturity
forwardness1789
1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France II. 376 The forwardness of the season.
c1790 J. Willock Voy. diverse parts 99 Gardens..all in great forwardness.
a1864 N. Hawthorne Amer. Note-bks. (1879) II. 139 Our peas are in such forwardness.
3. The quality of being forward; readiness, promptness, eagerness, zeal. †Also, proneness or inclination to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [noun] > readiness or promptness
readinessa1400
alacritya1460
forwardness1526
graithnessc1540
alacriousness1657
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > tendency > [noun] > to, towards, or for something
inclination?a1439
pronityc1475
forwardness1526
propensionc1530
proneness1548
propenseness1561
proclivitya1591
propensity1601
procliveness1623
propensation1650
resentment1655
verge1661
gravitating1816
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Sviv In my body & flesshe I fynde no good, ne forwardnes to perfection.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. ii. f. 58 A man of..apt forwardenes to attempte thynges.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Cor. ix. 2 I know the forwardnesse of your mind. View more context for this quotation
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes i. xlii. 68 Not by reason of any forwardnesse in him to anger.
1696 T. Southerne Oroonoko iv. ii I speak..in my desire And forwardness to serve so great a man.
1818 W. Cobbett Year's Resid. U.S.A. i. ii. 114 I have observed in the American farmers..not the least backwardness, but great forwardness, to applaud and admire my mode of cultivating these crops.
1852 G. Grote Hist. Greece X. ii. lxxx. 480 The extreme forwardness with which these leaders exposed themselves.
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 217 Forwardness to take office.
4. Over-readiness, presumptuous self-confidence; hence, lack of becoming modesty, boldness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > self-assertiveness > [noun]
spritec1540
forwardnessa1616
perkinga1624
petulcity1628
perknessa1640
furthinessa1658
outbearing1740
self-assertion1805
bumptiousness1834
cockiness1841
perkiness1847
self-assertiveness1855
coxiness1859
forthputting1861
assertiveness1881
pushingness1881
aggression1889
pushfulness1897
pushiness1898
chestiness1909
attitude1975
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. ii. 140 Since the youth will not be intreated His owne perill on his forwardnesse . View more context for this quotation
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 181 There is a fault in young Surgeons of forwardnesse in taking too much bloud at Sea.
1677 tr. A.-N. Amelot de La Houssaie Hist. Govt. Venice 145 It is indecency and too much forwardness in young Men to enquire into the Institution of their Laws, and demand Reasons for them.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 45 In France it is usual to bring their Children into Company, and to cherish in 'em, from their Infancy, a kind of Forwardness and Assurance.
1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham I. xii. 73 Nobody will call your civility, forwardness and pushing.
1875 Mrs. Randolph Wild Hyacinth I. 129 She snubs him in the..most remorseless manner..His forwardness is quite amazing.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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