FOR'WARDNESS, noun 1. Cheerful readiness; promptness. It expresses more than willingness. We admire the forwardness of christians in propagating the gospel. 2. Eagerness; ardor. It is sometimes difficult to restrain the forwardness of youth. 3. Boldness; confidence; assurance; want of due reserve or modesty. In France it is usual to bring children into company, and cherish in them, from their infancy, a kind of forwardness and assurance. 4. A state of advance beyond the usual degree; as the forwardness of spring or of corn.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI