An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/-wärts

by Friedrich Kluge

-wärts, suffix in compounds, e.g., aufwärts, from MidHG. and OHG. -wërtes (ûfwërtes, ‘upwards’); properly an adverb. genit. of MidHG. and OHG. -wërt (MidHG. and OHG. ûfwërt, adv., ‘upwards’). The latter word is used as an adj. in OHG., but is now represented by -wärtig (MidHG. and OHG. -wërtic); comp. OHG. inwërt, adj. ‘internal,’ Goth. andwairþs, adj., ‘present.’ The word is never used independently; since it forms local adjs. in the sense of ‘existing,’ some are inclined to connect it with werden, ‘to arise.’