后綴-ward(s) = tending to ～;in the direction of ～;towar

-ward和wards都是古英語的表方向的派生后綴。-ward既可以充當(dāng)形容詞后綴，也可以充當(dāng)副詞后綴；-wards只能充當(dāng)副詞后綴。它們一般加在介詞、形容詞或名詞后面，表示tending to or leading to～(傾向...的，傾向...地）；in the direction of ～(在...方向，往...方向）；toward～(朝...的；朝...地）等意思。

1.afterwards [after prep.& adj.在...以后；-wards →“傾向于在...時間之后”→]
adv.后來，以后
The bud was samll at first,but afterwards it became a large flower. 起先花蕾很小，但后來開成了一朵很大的花。

2.backward [back adj.&n. 后面（的）；-ward→]
adv./adj. 向后；向后的
舉例：He leaned backward. 他向后靠。
She gave him a backward look over her shoulder.她回頭看了他一眼。

3.homeward [home n.家；-ward →]
adv./adj. 向家；向家的，向本國的
舉例：The ship is on her homeward course. 這條船行駛在回國的航線上。