inward means situated on the inside; that is within, inner; belonging to the inside. It carries an Arena rating of 1500, earned across 10 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, inward ranks #390 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #1,027 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #2,305 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words, #4,026 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
inward is pronounced /ˈɪnwəd/.
Why “inward” is a great word
Situated on the inside; directed or moving toward the interior, or relating to the mental or spiritual faculties. From Middle English inward, from Old English inweard, corresponding to in ("in") + -ward ("toward"). Unlike "outward," which denotes orientation toward the external world, or "inner," which describes a fixed, inherent position, inward implies a turning, a motion or focus away from the surface. It is the drawing of a shuddered breath in a moment of shock, the slow retreat of a snail into its shell, and the specific quality of attention when one listens to the silence between heartbeats—a fundamental vector of consciousness, pointing always toward the citadel of the self.
Etymology
From Middle English inward, from Old English inweard, corresponding to in + -ward.
adj
- Situated on the inside; that is within, inner; belonging to the inside.
- Not superficially obvious, inner, not expressed, especially relating to mental or spiritual faculties as opposed to external ones.
- Moving or tending toward the inside.
- Not directed toward the outside world, and thus quiet or indistinct.
- Internal to a particular place or country; not foreign, domestic.
- Secret, private, kept hidden.
- Coming from one’s inmost or sincerest feelings; heartfelt, earnest.
- Intimate, closely acquainted; familiar, close.e.g.“There is nothing can be added unto the daintinesse of Fulvius wives death, who was so inward with Augustus.” — 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 3, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
- Devoted to spiritual matters, pious, devout.
- Tame.
- Internal; applied through the stomach by being swallowed.
adv
- Towards the inside.
- Towards one’s mind, thoughts, or internal self.e.g.“So much the rather, thou Celestial Light, / Shine inward.” — 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished
- On the inside, within, inside.
- In one’s mind, thoughts, or internal self.
- Towards home.
noun
- That which is inward or within; the inner parts or organs of the body; the viscera.e.g.“[T]his man is a servant of the eyes of men, and offers parchment or a white skin in sacrifice, but the flesh and the inwards he leaves to be consumed by a stranger fire.” — 1653, “Twenty-five Sermons Preached at Golden Grove; Being for the Winter Half-year, […]: Sermon XII. Of Lukewarmness and Zeal; or, Spiritual Fervour. Part I.”, in Reginald Heber, editor, The Whole Wo
- The mental faculties or other characteristics not immediately apparent.
- A familiar friend or acquaintance.e.g.“I was an inward of his.” — c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount,
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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