Forward v.

[f. FORWARD adv.]

  1.  trans. To help or push forward; to advance, assist, hasten, promote, urge on. Also, † to put forward, set on foot (obs. rare).

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. i. 33.

1605.  Verstegan, Dec. Intell., vi. (1628), 172. Hee was greatly encowraged and forwarded in the matter, by diuers of his most inward friendes.

1728.  J. Morgan, Algiers, II. i. 218–9. The Moriscoes of Africa held a constant Correspondence with their persecuted Brethren in Spain, were often forwarded and assisted by them in their nocturnal Expeditions, and, at different Times, transported many thousands of them, with their Families and Effects.

1780.  Burke, Lett. to Burgh, Wks. IX. 243. He [Lord North] graciously permitted, or rather forwarded two bills; that for encouraging the growth of tobacco, and that for giving a bounty on exportation of hemp from Ireland.

1786.  Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, 24 July. After doing whatever I can to forward my dress for the next morning, I go to bed.

1806.  Wellington, in Owen, Desp., lxxvi. This prince, who was very unpopular in his territories, showed every disposition to impede rather than to forward the operations of the British army.

1871.  Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. xvi. 33. If not himself [Harold] a benefactor to the great local abbey, yet as one who was ready to protect its rights and to forward its interests.

  2.  To accelerate the growth of (plants, etc.).

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 412. So we may House our owne Country Plants, to forward them, and make them come in the Cold Seasons.

1707.  Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 266. A Dunghill … is of wondrous Efficacy to forward the Flowers.

1720.  Swift, Apollo to Dean, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 16.

1845.  Florist’s Jrnl., 55. They [plants] will be forwarded, or retarded, according to the state of the season.

  3.  To send forward, send to an ulterior destination (a thing, rarely a person). In commercial language often loosely, to dispatch, send by some regular mode of conveyance.

1757.  Franklin, Lett. to Wife, in Bigelow, Life (1881), I. 378. The black silk was sent to Mr. Neates, who undertook to forward it in some package of his.

1757.  Affect. Narr. Wager, 33. Where they might meet with … an Opportunity also of being forwarded to their own Home.

1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev., Preface, p. iii. That letter is alluded to in the beginning of the following sheets. It has been since forwarded to the person to whom it was addressed.

1844.  Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), I. iii. 122. In the spring of 679 he sought the protection of Dagobert, who reigned in Alsace, and who, in return for the good offices which he formerly, an exile himself, had received from Wilfrid, forwarded him in safety to Rome, in the company of Deodatus, one of his own bishops.

1883.  F. M. Peard, Contrad., I. xii. 181. There is a letter which should be forwarded to my brother.

Mod.  (Comm.) We have this day forwarded to your address per S.W.R. three boxes: marked [etc.].

  † b.  To pass on, publish abroad. Obs.

1713.  Steele, Guardian, No. 1, 12 March, ¶ 1. His countenance is communicated to the publick in several views and aspects drawn by the most eminent painters, and forwarded by engravers, artists by way of mezzo-tinto, etchers, and the like.

  4.  Bookbinding. To get (a sewed book) ready for the ‘finisher’ by putting a plain cover on (see FORWARDING vbl. sb. 2).

  Hence Forwarded ppl. a. (in 17th c. occas. † forwardly disposed, eager); Forwarding ppl. a.

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Surv. Leviath. (1676), 208. None are more glad to see those punishments inflicted, or more forwarded to promote it, then the venerable part of their own order.

1691.  Norris, Pract. Disc., 315. Why should we not follow the same Method in the Practice of a Religious Life, the difficulty and consequence of which is enough to ingage us to seek out for the best and most forwarding Assistances?

1776.  Barker, in Phil. Trans., LXVI. 371. There was indeed a pretty deal of rain the first half of February, but the latter part of that month was warm and forwarding.

1796.  C. Marshall, Garden., xv. (1813), 238. When these forwarded beans are planted in rows singly, let it be under a warm wall.

1894.  Mrs. H. Ward, Marcella, III. 96. It was only that morning that she had received a forwarded letter from that old friend, asking urgently for news and her address.