Froward comes from Old English fromweard ('turned away, about to depart'), from from ('away from') + -weard ('-ward'); the sense shifted to 'turned against, contrary'. 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 an adjective, it carries the sense "stubbornly contrary and disobedient (archaic)", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old English fromweard and Old English -weard. Derivative forms include frowardly, frowardness; related words include from, fromward, toward.