(see next). Now dial. or arch. [f. TOWARDLY a. + -NESS.] The quality or character of being ‘towardly.’
1. Good disposition towards something, willingness; spec. aptness to learn, docility, tractableness; forwardness in learning, ‘promise’; ingenuity, proficiency: = TOWARDNESS 1, 2.
a. 1569. Kingesmyll, Confl. Satan (1578), 25. Such as haue no towardlinesse nor framing of their hearts … to do the will of God.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 360. [He] appointed eight hundred of the Christian children, in whom appeared most towardlinesse, to be brought up for Ianezaries.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., p. xxv. All schollars of any towardlinesse and diligence may be made absolute Grammarians, and euery way fit for the Vniuersitie, by fifteen yeares of age.
1735–6. Carte, Ormonde, I. Introd. 65. The loss of his only son, a noble young gentleman and of great towardliness.
1830. Godwin, Cloudesley, III. i. 3. I had children that improved every day in towardliness and beauty.
2. Favorableness, friendliness, affability.
1566. Q. Mary, Lett. in Sir J. Melvil’s Mem. (1735), 144. Touching our Towardliness to them of the Religion.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 573. The great towardlinesse and courteous nature of the Turkish emperour.
3. Furtherance, advancement, promotion.
1553. S. Cabot, Ordinances, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 262. In towardlinesse of beneficiall traffike.
1653. Manton, Exp. James iv. 16, Wks. 1871, IV. 394. If God suspend his concurrence, the creatures cannot act, at least not with any towardliness and success.
† 4. Likelihood, likely condition or position, prospect; in such phrases as in great towardliness, very likely. (Cf. TOWARDNESS 3.) Obs.
1579–80. North, Plutarch (1676), 297. Cato put out of the Senate also, one Manlius, who was in great towardliness to have been made Consull.
1655. Owen, Vind. Evang., Wks. 1853, XII. 192. The signs … that he would be exalted to a Kingdom. He was by them in a good towardliness for it.
