What does "toward" mean?

Additional senses

1. 2.With direction to, in a moral sense; with respect or reference to; regarding; concerning. His eye shall be evil toward his brother. Deut. xxviii.
2. 3.Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. Acts xxiv.
3. 4.3. Tending to; in the direction of; in behalf of. This was the first alarm England received towards any trouble. Clarendom.
4. 5.Near; about; approaching to. I am toward nine years older since I left you. Swift.
5. 6.Near; at hand; in state of preparation. Do you hear sught, sir, of a battle toward Shak. We have a trifling foolish banquet Towards. Shak.
6. 7.Approaching; coming near. "His toward peril." Spenser.
7. 8.Readly to do or learn; compliant with duty; not froward; apt; docile; tractable; as, a toward youth.
8. 9.Ready to act; forward; bold; valiant. Why, that is spoken like a toward prince. Shak.