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sternward

sternward

1 8.4
At the back of a ship or boat
  • adjective
  • /ˈstɜrnˌwərd/
  • Specialized
: a popa
  • The cargo was stored in the sternward hold to balance the vessel.

Examples

  • The captain ordered everyone to move to the sternward section of the deck.

  • A sternward glance revealed the approaching storm clouds behind the ship.

  • The ship was sailing sternward through the storm.

  • He looked sternward to see if anyone was following.

  • The captain instructed the crew to prepare the sails sternward as the storm approached.

  • During the ship's launch, we noticed that the sternward section was already submerged.

  • As the ship sailed sternward, we could see the coast disappearing from view.

Synonyms

aft
vssternward
  • Specialized
45 7.0

Near the back of a ship or the tail of a plane

is the general rear direction for ships and vehicles
astern
vssternward
5 7.9

Toward the rear of a ship or plane

is about position toward the rear without stressing backward motion
rearward
vssternward
1 7.0

Located at or pointing toward the back of something

is specific to rear direction on ships and vehicles
tailward
vssternward
1 7.3

Toward the back end of an animal or object

is about rear direction on ships and vehicles, not animal tails

Surface Forms

sternward positive

Morphology

sternward = stern (transparent) = stern + ward

The meaning 'toward the stern' follows directly from the noun 'stern' combined with the directional suffix '-ward'.

Etymology

Sternward is built from stern ('the back of a ship') and the ending -ward ('toward'), so as an adjective it describes something at or pointing to the ship's rear.