The term "sidewards" refers to the direction of something that is moving to the side. It is used interchangeably with the more commonly recognized term "sideways". The phonetic transcription of "sidewards" is /ˈsaɪdwədz/, where the "y" sound is represented by the IPA symbol /aɪ/. This spelling is in contrast to the more common "sideways", which is spelled with a "y" instead of "i". Thus, the spelling of "sidewards" may sometimes cause confusion or look unusual to some people.
Sidewards is an adverb that describes movement or direction toward the side or sideways. The term is derived from the combination of "side" and "-wards," which signifies a directional movement. It relates to an action or motion that occurs horizontally, leading away from the front or back.
When used, "sidewards" indicates a lateral movement that deviates from the standard forward or backward motion. It implies a shift or repositioning to the side rather than in a straight line or perpendicular to the orientation. This term often applies to physical movements, such as walking, running, or sliding, that involve a sideways trajectory. For example, if someone says, "He stepped sidewards to avoid the obstacle," it means the person took a step to the side to circumvent the hindrance rather than moving straight ahead.
Additionally, "sidewards" can describe the orientation or position of an object or person. When used to explain the arrangement of a specific entity, it signifies a sideways placement or alignment. For instance, if a book is positioned sidewards on a shelf, it means it is placed horizontally and perpendicular to the standard orientation. Similarly, one might say, "She tilted her head sidewards to get a better look," indicating a slight rotation or inclination of the head to the side.
In summary, "sidewards" refers to a movement, direction, or position that shifts sideways, deviating from the usual forward or backward course.
The word "sidewards" has an origin in Middle English, where the words "side" and "ward" were used individually to indicate direction. "Side" originally comes from the Old English word "sīde", meaning "side" or "flank". "Ward" comes from the Old English word "weard", meaning "in the direction of" or "toward". The combination of these two words, "sidewards", emerged in the 15th century, ultimately denoting a direction or movement to the side.