DOWNWARD • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Downward

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/dˈaʊnwərd/ Listen

adjective

Downward adj.

Moving or extending from a higher to a lower place; tending toward the earth or its center, or toward a lower level; declivous. "With downward force That drove the sand along he took his way."

Descending from a head, origin, or source; as, a downward line of descent.

Tending to a lower condition or state; depressed; dejected; as, downward thoughts.

adverb

Downwards, Downward adv.

From a higher place to a lower; in a descending course; as, to tend, move, roll, look, or take root, downward or downwards. "Looking downwards." "Their heads they downward bent."

From a higher to a lower condition; toward misery, humility, disgrace, or ruin. "And downward fell into a groveling swine."

From a remote time; from an ancestor or predecessor; from one to another in a descending line. "A ring the county wears, That downward hath descended in his house, From son to son, some four or five descents."

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Etymology of 'Downward'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Downward" Quotes from Famous Books

... is absolute. The motion of the sieves, the speed of the blower, and the action of the inlet hopper valve and the delivery hulling valve are always exactly proportioned to the speed of the hulling cylinder, whether fast or slow. The upper or feed valve opens upward and has a downward projecting lip that shuts into a recess in its seat which insures security against leakage from the hopper to the hulling cylinder during the intervals of its being raised; a great advantage in hominy ...

— Scientific American, Vol. 17, No. 26 December 28, 1867 • Various

... mood was cheerfully pessimistic—that is to say, she was garrulous, and spoke cheerily of generally downward tendencies. Thus, the new rector, by her way of it, was of a decadent modern type, full of newfangled "Papish" notions as to church vestments and early services, and neglectful of traditional responsibilities connected with soup ...

— The Message • Alec John Dawson

... have a word to say to you," and he would lead her aside, drawing her hand downward. "I have heard of certain projects concerning... you know. Well my dear child, you know how your father's heart rejoices to know that you... You have suffered so much.... But, my dear child, consult only your own heart. ...

— War and Peace • Leo Tolstoy

... glittering on him through their long silken lashes; but Sir John looked downward,—diligently noting something extraordinary in the disposition of his shoe-roses, or in the ...

— Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2) • John Roby

... a high branch, so as to secure them from jackals and hyenas, the hunters continued on; and shortly after, having re-entered the channel of the stream, continued to follow it downward. ...

— Popular Adventure Tales • Mayne Reid

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