netherwards

adverb

neth·​er·​wards

-dz

: downward

Word History

Etymology

alteration (influenced by such words as afterwards, downwards) of earlier netherward, from Middle English netherward, nitherward, from Old English nitherwerd, nitherweardes; Old English nitherwerd, from nither down + -werd, -weard -ward; Old English nitherweardes, from nither down + -weardes -wards

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