Etymology

Formed within English on fro (prep., adv.) + suffix, likely on the model of native fromward, frommard < OE framweard ‘away from’ (cp. also the adv. and adj.).

PGmc Ancestor

*frama

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

frá ‘from’ 
(ONP frá (præp.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

OE Cognate

fram, from 'from, by, of'; cp. framweard ‘away from’

Phonological and morphological markers

loss of nasal consonant in ON

Summary category

A1*

Attestation

First cited from Orrm by MED, with widespread citations thereafter. Note that it was used alongside the native variant in some texts.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 1289, 1335, 1759

Bibliography

MED frōward (prep.) , OED forward (adj., adv. and prep.) , HTOED , Bj. 100–101, DOE fram-weard (adv. and prep.); see further fro (prep., adv.).