[reer-werd for 1–4; reer-wawrd for 5] 
| 1. | Also, rearwards. toward or in the rear. |
| 2. | located in, near, or toward the rear. |
| 3. | directed toward the rear. |
| 4. | a position at the rear: in the rearward of fashion. |
| 5. | the rear division of a military unit. |
| rear·ward 1 (rîr'wərd) adv. Toward, to, or at the rear. adj. At or in the rear. n. A rearward direction, point, or position. rear'wards adv. |
| rear·ward 2 (rîr'wôrd') n. The rear guard of an armed force. [Middle English rerewarde, from Anglo-Norman : rere, behind (from Latin retrō; see re- in Indo-European roots) + warde, guard (of Germanic origin; see wer-3 in Indo-European roots).] |
wərd