English
hitherward
From hither + -ward.
A compound of hither + -ward
Proto-Indo-European *ḱís ‘this (here)’
Proto-Germanic *hiz ‘this’
Proto-Germanic *hidrê ‘to this place, to here, hither’
Old English hider ‘to here, hither’
English hither
Today it means
adv Toward this place
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / hitherward