Earthward
/ˈɜːrθ.wərd/noun
Directed toward the earth or ground.
Did you know?The second half, -ward, comes from an old Germanic directional suffix meaning “turned toward,” the same ancient movement-root behind words like reward and toward.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
eorþweard
“turned or directed toward the earth”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*erþō
“earth, soil, ground”
Old English
OE
weard
“turned toward; guarding; in the direction of”
Middle English
ME
ertheward
“earthward, toward the earth”
Modern English
English
earthward
“directed toward the earth or ground”