froward C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈfroʊwɚd/ UK /ˈfrəʊəd/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj stubbornly contrary and disobedient (archaic) The froward child refused every reasonable request. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · stubbornly contrary and... contraryperversestubbornobstinatewaywardrefractorydisobedientintractable ↔ Opposites compliantobedientdociletractableamenable Word family Derived forms frowardlyfrowardness Related forms fromfromwardtoward Etymology AI details From Old English fromweard ('turned away, about to depart'), from from ('away from') + -weard ('-ward'); the sense shifted to 'turned against, contrary'. fromweard Old English -weard Old English View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # froward **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈfroʊwɚd/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈfrəʊəd/ ## Meanings 1. stubbornly contrary and disobedient (archaic) ## Examples - The froward child refused every reasonable request. ## Synonyms - contrary - perverse - stubborn - obstinate - wayward - refractory - disobedient - intractable ## Antonyms - compliant - obedient - docile - tractable - amenable ## Derived Forms - frowardly - frowardness ## Related Forms - from - fromward - toward ## Roots and Affixes - Root: fromweard - Root: -weard ## Etymology From Old English fromweard ('turned away, about to depart'), from from ('away from') + -weard ('-ward'); the sense shifted to 'turned against, contrary'. ## AI Etymology 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. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives - Register & Style markdown