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inward(1) (iou)



inward adjective & noun.
[Old English innanweard, inneweard, inweard, from inflected forms or base of IN adverb, preposition + -weard -WARD.]
A. adjective.
Situated within; that is the inner or innermost part; that is on the inside. OE.
b. Situated in or belonging to the interior of a country or region; inland. Now rare. M17.
c. Of speech etc.: not clearly enunciated; muffled, indistinct. L18.
Within or of the mind, soul, or spirit; mental, spiritual. ME.
J. M. Murry The most intimate motion of Keats' inward life. J. Steinbeck What he said..made her give a small inward start.
b. Deeply felt, earnest, heartfelt. LME-E17.
c. Spiritually minded, pious; contemplative; introverted, reserved. LME.
Close, intimate; familiar, well acquainted. Now rare. L15.
F. Quarles Friendly to all men, inward but with few.
Existing in or pertaining to a country or place; domestic, civil. E16-E19.
Secret, private; confidential. M16-E17.
Directed or proceeding towards the inside; coming in from outside. M19.
Independent In order to help China modernise..the Government has encouraged foreign inward investment.
b. noun.
In pl. & (now rare) sing. The inner part, the inside. Usu. spec. the internal parts or organs of the body, the entrails. OE.
The inner nature or essence of a thing or person; thoughts, mental processes. rare. OE.
An intimate or familiar acquaintance. rare. Only in E17.
In pl. Articles coming in or imported, dues on such articles. M18.