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Landwards: meaning, definitions and examples

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landwards

 

[ ˈlændwərdz ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

directional movement

Landwards refers to the direction towards land, often used in the context of navigation or describing the movement from water towards the shore. It is commonly used in maritime and aviation terminologies. The term implies a shift from an aquatic environment to a terrestrial one.

Synonyms

inland, seaward, toward land

Examples of usage

  • The boat sailed landwards as the storm approached.
  • We headed landwards to escape the rising tide.
  • The birds migrated landwards as winter approached.
  • The fishermen rowed landwards after a long day at sea.

Etymology

The term 'landwards' is derived from the combination of 'land' and the adverbial suffix '-wards', which suggests direction. The root word 'land' comes from the Old English 'land', meaning solid ground or soil, which has its origins in Proto-Germanic '*landą', referring to territory or ground. The suffix '-wards' has Germanic roots as well, indicating direction, derived from Old English '-weard', which means towards or in the direction of. The word has been used in English literature since at least the 15th century, evolving through various forms but retaining its core meaning of direction towards land. In nautical terms, 'landwards' plays a crucial role in navigation and descriptions of movement, especially in maritime contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,034, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.