adv. (and a.) [f. FORWARD a. + -LY.]
A. adv.
1. In a forward manner; readily, promptly, eagerly; presumptuously, pertly.
1552. Huloet, Forwardly or towardly, recte.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1579/2. He was not so suddenlie come, as forwardlie welcome of the principall, and others, to the great reioising of all estates throughout the whole realme.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Serm. for Year, I. Epistle Dedicatory. You must not admire too forwardly for your own sake, lest you fall into the hands of a worse preacher.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., IV. viii. § 3. I grant as forwardly as any one, that they [Identical Propositions] are all true, and self-evident.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 504, 8 Oct., ¶ 5. The Fellow, who kill’d the Officer of Newgate, very forwardly, and like a Man who was willing to deal, told him, Look you, Mr. Surgeon, that little dry Fellow, who has been half-starv’d all his Life, and is now half-dead with Fear, cannot answer your Purpose.
1812. W. Godwin, Let., in T. J. Hogg, Life Shelley (1858), II. iii. 86. I shall still acknowledge, as forwardly as ever, the lovely qualities that I set out with confessing in you, and shall only deeply and earnestly lament that you have been so essentially misled in the exercise of them.
1813. Examiner, 15 Feb., 103/2. Men being forwardly obedient to all the impulses they receive from themselves.
† 2. In a forward position, in the fore part. Obs.
1578. J. Banister, The Historie of Man, I. 24. The Cartilages, which the ribbes forwardly produce, are diuerse.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. xix. 261. If the horne have this situation, and be so forwardly affixed, as is described, it will not be easily conceived, how it [the Unicorne] can feed from the ground.
1654. trans. Scudery’s Curia Politiæ, 189. When his valour marched so forwardly in the Van.
3. In a forward direction, towards the front. U.S.
1876. Mrs. Whitney, Sights and Insights, vi. 82. We did not come upon it forwardly, as just to the end where something lay across; we moved alongside it.
1884. Harper’s Mag., Jan., 263/1. The … hands were stretched out forwardly, as though feeling the way.
† 4. Early, prematurely. Obs.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon., viii. § 72 (1642), 546. Mary, Cleophas his daughter was forwardly married, and a mother before she was 5 yeers old.
† B. adj. a. Eager, ready. b. Advanced (in growth or progress). Also, of a season: Early.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xxxvii. (1887), 151. Til the childe be either in the grammar schole, by orderly ascent, and not by two forewardly hast.
1598. Barckley, Felic. Man, Ded. (1603), *iv b. It was so forwardly that I could not well hinder the impression.
1647. Trapp, Comm. Matt. xviii. 21. Peter is still the same; ever too forwardly and forth-putting.
1670. W. Hughes, Compl. Vineyard (1683), 39. Neither ought it to be done, unless it be a forwardly Spring. Ibid. (1665), II. 13. If your Vines be forwardly, you may towards the latter end of this Moneth break off some of the long branches or tops … where they grow too thick.
Hence † Forwardliness, forward condition.
1647. Trapp, Comm. Luke xxi. 38. Let our people look upon their forwardliness, and be ashamed of their long lying, tardy coming to hear the word.
1667. Lond. Gaz., No. 220/2. The two Men of War that were building … are in a good forwardliness.
