Definition of inward

The word "inward" has its roots in Old English and Germanic languages. The Proto-Germanic word "*ana-" meant "toward one's own self" or "toward within," which is also seen in modern German as "an" meaning "inward" or "to the self." This Proto-Germanic word is also the source of the Modern English word "an" as a prefix meaning "toward the self" or "toward the beginning." The Old English word "innan" (inward) emerged from the Proto-Germanic "*ana-" and is related to the Modern English word "inward." During the Middle English period, the spelling evolved to "inward," and its meaning expanded to indicate a turning inward, as if from the outer to the inner self. Today, the word "inward" is used to describe introspection, self-examination, or a focus on one's inner thoughts and emotions.