▪ I. outward, a. (n.1)
(ˈaʊtwəd)
Forms: 1 {uacu}tan-, {uacu}te-, {uacu}tweard, 2–5 utward; 4–5 oute-, 4–6 outwarde, 4–5 Sc. owt(e)wart, -ward(e, 5– outward, (5 utteward, 6 uttwarde, vtward, Sc. wtuert).
[OE. {uacu}tan-, {uacu}te-, {uacu}tweard, f. {uacu}tan, {uacu}te, {uacu}t (see outen, oute, out adv.) + -weard, -ward: cf. MHG. ûȥwert, Ger. auswärtig external, foreign, MLG. ûtward.]
1. That is turned or lies towards the region or space outside the boundary of any enclosure or the surface of anything; that is without or on the outer side; out, outer, external, exterior. Obs. or arch.
| a 900 O.E. Chron. an. 893 (Parker MS.) Hi tuᵹon up hiora scipu of þone weald iiii. mila fram þæm muþan ute weardum. c 1000 ælfric Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 160/9 Femur utanweard þeoh. 1530 Palsgr. 250/2 Outwarde parte of any thynge, superfice. 1535 Coverdale Ezek. xliv. 1 Y⊇ outwarde dore of the Sanctuary. 1555 Eden Decades 42 That..beaste..bearing her whelpes abowte with her in an outwarde bellye. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. vii. §7. 30 Contraction of pores is incident to the outwardest parts. 1660 Barrow Euclid i. xvi, The outward angle will be greater than either of the inward and opposite angles. 1709 Steele & Addison Tatler No. 103 ¶12, I heard a Noise in my outward Room. 1853 Stocqueler Mil. Encycl. 206/2 In wheeling time 120 paces..the outward file stepping thirty-three inches. |
b. Directed or proceeding towards the outside; pertaining to what is so directed.
| [Beowulf (Z.) 761 Fingras burston, eoten wæs utweard.] 1700 Dryden Sigism. & Guisc. 61 The fire will force its outward way. 1884 G.W.R. Time Tables July 86 The first or Outward Halves of Return Tickets. 1898 Outward postages [see inward a. 7]. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 282 Some downward and outward displacement of the left eye. |
† c. Known outside, generally known, public.
| 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas iii. v. (1554) 77 b, The death of Mergus outwarde was not Nor plainly published in that region. |
† d. Done outside, out-of-door. Obs.
| 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. ii. iv. (1651) 269 The most pleasant of all outward pastimes. |
2. Of or pertaining to the outer surface of the body and its clothing; also to the body itself as opposed to the mind, soul, or spirit, and to bodily as opposed to mental faculties; external, bodily.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 100 Þeo ancre þet schulde beon his [Christ's] leofmon, & secheð þauh utward ȝelunge & froure, mid eie oðer mid tunge. 14.. Why I can't be a Nun 356 in E.E.P. (1862) 147 As by owtewarde aray in semyng Beth so wyth-in my ladyes dere. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxiv. (Percy Soc.) 108 The eyen, the eres, and also the nose, The mouth, and handes, inwarde wyttes are none; But outwarde offyces. Ibid., These outwarde gates to have the knowledginge,.. the inwarde wyttes to have decernynge. 1526 Tindale Gal. vi. 12 With uttwarde aperaunce to please carnally. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion Collects, The wordes whiche we haue hearde this day with our outwarde eares. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. ii. 286 Oh, what may Man within him hide, Though Angel on the outward side? 1713 Young Force Relig. i. (1757) 50 When charms of mind With elegance of outward form are join'd. 1867 Maurice Patriarchs & Lawg. viii. (1877) 159 The vision was not to the outward eye. |
b. Said of medical applications or treatment applied externally; = external a. 1 c.
| 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Pref., Wks. (1653) 6 Some..would..confine the Surgeon onely to outward medicine, and outward healing. 1710 Addison Tatler No. 221 ¶5 By inward Medicines or outward Applications. Mod. (Label on Liniment.) ‘For outward application only.’ |
c. outward man (Theol.), the body as opposed to the soul or spirit; humorously, outward guise, clothing.
| 1526 Tindale 2 Cor. iv. 16 But though oure vttward [Wyclif 1388 vtter] man perisshe, yet the inwarde man is renewed daye by daye. a 1555 Latimer Let. to Sir E. Baynton in Foxe A. & M. (1583) 1747/2 Eyther my Lord of London wil iudge myn outward man onely..or els he will be my God, and iudge mine inwarde manne. 1664 [see inward a. 2]. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. iii. 94 Till he began To scruple at Ralph's Outward Man. 1848 Dickens Dombey iv, The only change ever known in his outward man, was from a complete suit of coffee-colour..to [etc.]. |
† 3. External to the country; foreign. Obs.
| 1467–8 Rolls of Parlt. V. 623/1 Called uppon..by outward Prynces, as the Duke of Burgoyn. 1470 Paston Lett. II. 409 Our auncient ennemyes of Fraunce and our outward rebells and traitors. 1503–4 Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 4 Preamb., Honour & Victorie hathe ben goten ageyne utwarde enymyes. a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV 237 Affaires of outwarde warres. 1675 tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz., These Perils..would be either inward or outward. Outward, either from the Bishop of Rome..or from the French King. |
† b. Lying outside some sphere of work, duty, or interest; external. Obs.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints ii. (Paulus) 939 Owtwart thingis..Owtane, þat wes þe besynes Þat he had of all þe kirk. 1535 Coverdale Neh. xi. 16 The chefe of the Leuites, in the outwarde busynes of y⊇ house of God. 1611 Bible 1 Chron. xxvi. 29 Chenaniah and his sonnes were for the outward busines ouer Israel, for officers and Iudges. |
4. Applied to actions, looks, and other externally visible manifestations, as opposed to internal feelings, spiritual or mental states or processes, etc.; of or pertaining to outer form as opposed to inner substance; formal.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 122 In all y⊇ outwarde workes that man oughteth to do for his Saluacyon. 1533 Gau Richt Vay 19 God lukis nocht the wtuert richtusnes quhilk mony keipis and dois wtuertlie in the sicht of men. 1604 Bk. Com. Prayer, Catechism, Q. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament? A. I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. 1667 Milton P.L. xii. 534 The rest..Will deem in outward Rites and specious formes Religion satisfi'd. a 1703 Burkitt On N.T. Mark ii. 28 The good of man is to be preferred before the outward keeping of the sabbath. 1813 Scott Rokeby i. ii, While her poor victim's outward throes Bear witness to his mental woes. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. I. ii. 96 The church, to outward appearance, stood more securely than ever. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xvii. 54 It was the master-piece of William's policy of outward legality. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 8 To reduce the faith to a vague futility, and its outward ordering to a piece of ingeniously reticulated pretence. |
5. Applied to things in the external or material world, as opposed to those in the mind or thought.
| 1573–80 Baret Alv. O 212 By means of our bodie, images come from outward things into our mind. 1803–6 Wordsw. Ode Intim. Immort. ix, Those obstinate questionings Of sense and outward things. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 273 We cannot think of outward objects of sense or of outward sensations without space. 1881 Besant & Rice Chapl. of Fleet I. 3 When we are in great grief and sorrow, outward things seem to affect us more than in ordinary times. |
b. Applied to things that are external to one's own personality, character, or efforts, or that concern one's relations with other persons and external circumstances; extrinsic. Rarely in relation to a thing (quot. 1756).
| 1607–12 Bacon Ess., Fortune (Arb.) 374 Outward Accidentes conduce much to a Mans fortune; favour; oportune death of others; occasion fitting vertue. 1685 South Serm., Will for Deed (1715) 385 Suppose we now, a Man be bound Hand and Foot by some outward Violence. 1709 Berkeley Th. Vision Ded., The outward advantages of fortune. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters I. 39 The different heat or cold of water is owing to outward accidents. 1869 J. Martineau Ess. II. 72 The law must define men's outward rights and relations. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 116 Man, who in his outward conditions is more helpless than the other animals. |
† c. Outside, superficial. Obs.
| 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot., Answ. Dugdale's Quære (1736) 51 Upon a single View and outward Observation, they may be the Monuments of any of these three Nations. |
6. † a. Unspiritual, secular. Obs. b. Dissipated, wild or irregular in conduct. dial.
| 1674 Owen Holy Spirit (1693) 130 After a while they have fallen into an outward state of things, wherein, as they suppose, they shall have no Advantage by [spiritual gifts]. 1875 Miss Powley Echoes Cumbld. 149 (E.D.D.) In wild outwart days I spent time. 1893 Snowden Tales Yorks. Wolds 95 He had led a very outward life—that is to say, he had been a drunkard and a reputed wife-beater. |
B. n. (ellipt. or absol. use of the adj.)
† 1. An outer part (of anything). Obs.
| c 1470 Henry Wallace ix. 1076 Thre hundreth in place About hym stud..Defendand him,..Quhill all the owtwart off the feild was tynt. Ibid. x. 718 Off the outward thre thousand thair thai slew. 1545 T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde Prol. B iv, An absolut & perfeict knowledge, of all the inwardes & outwardes of mans and womans body. |
2. Outward appearance; the outside, exterior.
| 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iii. ii. 169 Out-liuing beauties outward, with a minde That doth renew swifter than blood decaies. 1611 ― Cymb. i. i. 23 So faire an Outward, and such stuffe Within. 1644 H. Vaughan Serm. 19 The specious outwards of a whited Sepulchre. 1844 J. Payne Tales fr. Arabic I. 106 O vizier..make thine inward like unto thine outward. 1885–94 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche Mar. iii, Yet in their prime they bore the palm away; Outwards of loveliness. |
3. in pl. Outward things, circumstances, or conditions; externals.
| 1627–77 Feltham Resolves i. xxxviii. 63 Nature..makes us all equal: we are differenc'd but by accident and outwards. a 1655 Vines Lord's Supp. (1677) 78 Of the outwards of this ordinance of the supper. 1721 Wodrow Hist. Suff. Ch. Scotl. (1829) II. 295 They wanted not their discouragements as to outwards. |
4. That which is outside the mind; the external or material world.
| 1832 Tennyson Eleänore i, There is nothing here, Which, from the outward to the inward brought, Moulded thy baby thought. 1849 Sears Regeneration i. iii. (1859) 31 As man sinks lower and lower into the outward he loses the power of spiritual sight and intuition. 1878 Geo. Eliot Coll. Breakf. P. 521 Since human consciousness awaking owned An outward. |
C. Comb. † ˈoutwardˌshine [perh. two words], outward show or appearance (obs.).
| 1549 E. Allen tr. Paraph. Leo Jude Rev. 4 No hipocrisye nor outwardeshyne of godnes..is of any value before god. |
▪ II. outward, adv.
(ˈaʊtwəd)
Forms: see the adj.
[OE. {uacu}tan-, {uacu}te-, {uacu}t-weard: cf. OHG. {uacu}ȥwert.]
1. a. Of position or situation: On the outside; without.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxiii. 25 ᵹie clænsas þæt utaword is cælces. Ibid. Luke xi. 39 Þæt utteweard is calices & disces ᵹie clænsað. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (Ninian) 1139 In my mouth þe heft þou set & outwart þe blad of a knyfe. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. i. (1495) 592 A tree hath somwhat that longeth therto outwarde: as the rynde. 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. vi. ix. in Ashm. Theatr. Chem. Brit. (1652) 163 The Mater ys alterate, Both inward and outward substancyally. 1534 Tindale Matt. xxiii. 28 Whited tombes which appere beautyfull outwarde. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. xv, Sheepskins, with the wool outward. |
b. Of motion or direction: From the inside to or towards the outside of a space or thing.
| c 1290 Becket 2167 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 168 Heom þouȝte euere ase heo eoden outward..þat þe eorþe openede onder heom. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. x. 85 Boþe a-fyngrede and a-furst to turne þe fayre out-warde. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 608 As he went outwart bayne, He met ane Porter swayne. 1497 Nav. Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 149 They myght have their costes owteward & homeward. 1562 [see outwardly 1 b]. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. i. 14 How quickely the wrong side may be turn'd outward. 1859 Tennyson Guinevere 105 Lancelot..rushing outward lionlike Leapt on him. 1879 G. C. Harlan Eyesight vi. 88 One eye is turned outward by the opposing muscle, forming an external squint. |
† 2. Outside (of a specified or understood place); out of one's house; out of one's country, abroad.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 469 Ȝe..werreþ outward aȝenst men. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle iv. xxxiii. (Caxton 1483) 82 That by them his counceylle be nought shewed ne publysshed outward. 1428 in Surtees Misc. (1888) 9 For other occupacions that he had to doo utteward. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1612 Bathe outeward and als at hame. 1673 Penn The Chr. a Quaker iii, Men's Minds..being Outward and Abroad, God was pleased to meet them.. in some External Manifestations. |
† 3. a. On, or with reference to, the outside of the body, as opposed to its internal parts; externally.
| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §108 The stryng halte is an yl disease..and doth not appere outwarde. c 1532 G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 901 Membres longyng to mannes body aswell inwarde as out warde. 1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII, c. 8 title, An Acte that persones being no comen Surgeons maie mynistre medicines owtwarde. |
† b. On the visible outside of the body or person, esp. as opposed to the inner nature or character; in the body as opposed to the mind or spirit; in outward appearance as opposed to inner reality; outwardly, externally; publicly. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶861 A woman to haue a fair array outward and in hir self foul inward. c 1400 Rom. Rose 5755 Outward shewing holynesse Though they be fulle of cursidnesse. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 327 b/2 That he myght haue alle the rewle aboute the kynge as wel secretely as outward. 1526 Tindale 2 Cor. vii. 5 Outwarde was fightynge, in warde was feare. 1534 Whitinton Tullyes Offices i. (1540) 21 Which semeth rather to ryse of pride outwarde shewed than of lyberal wyl. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. i. 89 This outward sainted Deputie..is yet a diuell. 1673 Penn The Chr. a Quaker xvi, As Abraham outward and natural was the great Father of the Jews. |
c. From the soul or mind into external actions or conditions.
| 1805 Foster Ess. i. vii. 87 He will endeavour to trace himself outward, from his mind into his actions. 1849 Sears Regeneration i. vii. (1859) 56 Superabundant life unfolding from within outward. |
4. Comb., as outward-bent, outward-looking, outward-parting, outward-set, outward-steeled, outward-turning adjs. Also outward-bound.
| 1597 Middleton Wisd. of Solomon iv. xv, With outward⁓fac'd eye and eyed face. |
| 1890 W. James Princ. Psychol. I. x. 296 Our considering the spiritual self at all is a reflective process, is the result of our abandoning the outward-looking point of view. 1927 A. Huxley Proper Stud. 52 How repulsive, how incomprehensible I find the philosophy which is the rationalization of these people's outward-looking passion for their fellows! 1975 Times 5 Apr. 3/3 Teachers try to capture the interests of these pupils with vocationally oriented, out-ward-looking courses. |
| 1836 Gladstone Communion Hymn (in Good Words July 1898), As Thy temple's portals close Behind the outward-parting throng. |
| 1871 Palgrave Lyr. Poems 119 Free from outward-set control. |
| 1888 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1918) 69 The heroic breast not outward-steeled. 1930 Times Lit. Suppl. 30 Oct. 888/4 As in a maze, the outward-turning paths lead back to the centre. 1976 Listener 12 Aug. 176/3 This bodily prosperity, this outward-turning energy. |