Earthward: meaning, definitions and examples
🌍
earthward
[ ˈərTHwərd ]
direction, movement
Earthward means moving or directed toward the earth or ground. It is often used in contexts related to gravitational attraction or descent.
Synonyms
downward, to the ground, toward earth.
Examples of usage
- The spacecraft moved earthward as it re-entered the atmosphere.
- The rain fell earthward, soaking the dry ground.
- He leaned earthward to pick up the fallen leaf.
Translations
Translations of the word "earthward" in other languages:
🇵🇹 em direção à terra
🇮🇳 पृथ्वी की ओर
🇩🇪 erdwärts
🇮🇩 menuju bumi
🇺🇦 в напрямку до землі
🇵🇱 w kierunku ziemi
🇯🇵 地球に向かって
🇫🇷 vers la terre
🇪🇸 hacia la tierra
🇹🇷 yere doğru
🇰🇷 지구를 향하여
🇸🇦 نحو الأرض
🇨🇿 směrem k zemi
🇸🇰 smerom k zemi
🇨🇳 朝向地球
🇸🇮 v smeri proti zemlji
🇮🇸 að jörðinni
🇰🇿 жерге қарай
🇬🇪 მიწისკენ
🇦🇿 yerə doğru
🇲🇽 hacia la tierra
Etymology
The term 'earthward' is derived from the Old English word 'eorþe,' which means 'earth' or 'ground.' The suffix '-ward' is used to indicate direction or orientation, originating from the Old English 'weard,' meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of.' The combination of these elements creates a word that encapsulates movement towards the earth. Historically, terms denoting directional movement, such as 'earthward,' often arose in the context of natural phenomena, emphasizing the gravitational force that causes objects to fall or descend. Linguistically, similar constructs exist in English, where other directional words like 'homeward' or 'northward' apply the same '-ward' suffix to indicate direction. Over centuries, 'earthward' has been employed in various literary and poetic contexts, often evoking imagery of grounding, stability, or connection to the planet.