Fromward comes from Old English fromweard ('about to depart, turned away'), from from ('from, away') + -weard ('-ward, in the direction of'). The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As a preposition and adjective, it carries the sense "away from; directed away (archaic)", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old English fromweard and Old English -weard. Related words include from, froward, forward.