The word "seawards" is spelled with an -s at the end because it indicates the direction or location of the sea. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced /ˈsi.wəd(z)/. The -s at the end of the word is pronounced as a voiced consonant /z/ due to the influence of the vowel sound before it. This word is commonly used in nautical and geographical contexts to describe movement or direction towards the sea.
Seawards is an adverb that refers to the direction toward or in the direction of the sea or the ocean. It describes an action or movement that is directed towards the coast or ocean, or denotes a location or viewpoint that faces the water. The term is primarily used in a nautical context or when describing coastal geography.
The term "seawards" can be used to indicate a wide range of actions or directions, such as sailing, swimming, or traveling in a vessel towards the sea. It can also be employed to describe the orientation or position of a place or object that is located near or facing the sea. For example, a beach house or a hotel situated with a view of the ocean can be described as facing seawards.
"Seawards" is an old-fashioned term that has been replaced in modern English by the more commonly used "towards the sea" or "to the sea." However, it is still occasionally utilized in literature, particularly when aiming to create a sense of archaic or poetic language.
In summary, "seawards" is an adverb that signifies the direction towards the sea or ocean, describing actions, locations, or orientations that are oriented or face the water.
The word "seawards" is derived from the combination of two words: "sea" and "wards".
The term "sea" originated from the Old English word "sǣ", which referred to a large body of saltwater. This word has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as the Old Norse "sǣr" and the Old High German "sēo".
The word "wards" comes from the Old English word "weard", which meant "towards" or "in the direction of". This word is related to the Old Norse "verðr", the Old Frisian "warda", and the Old High German "wart".
When these two words were combined, "sea" and "wards", the word "seawards" was created, meaning "towards the sea" or "in the direction of the sea".