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Hitherward

Adverb
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Toward this place or in this direction. It is a literary directional term.

Detailed Definition
Hitherward directs movement toward the speaker, the poem's setting, or a point presented as near at hand. Its archaic flavor makes it especially suitable for formal apostrophe, travel imagery, mythic narrative, and landscape verse. A wind may blow hitherward from the sea, or a wandering figure may turn hitherward through the hills. The word can make direction feel emotionally charged, because movement toward the speaker often suggests return, appeal, arrival, or gathering closeness.
Example
Example in poetry:
Hitherward flies the gull from the far-off sea; “Hitherward” means toward this place or toward the speaker; The poet calls, “Come hitherward,” inviting the beloved nearer; Hitherward the storm advances, darkening the harbor
Additional Notes
A literary directional adverb meaning toward the speaker or this place; contrast thitherward, meaning away.
Also Known As
Hither This way Toward here
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