Forward

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Old English forweard (in the sense ‘towards the future’, as in from this day forward ), variant of forthweard (see forth, -ward).

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From Middle English foreward, from Old English foreweard(“forward, inclined to the front, fore, early, former”), from Proto-Germanic *fura-(“fore-”), *warþaz(“turned”), equivalent to fore +‎ -ward. Cognate with Dutch voorwaarts(“forward”), German vorwärts(“forward”).

From Middle English foreward, from Old English foreweard(“condition, bargain, agreement, contract, treaty, assurance”), equivalent to fore- +‎ ward(“ward, keeping”). Cognate with Scots forward(“covenant, compact”), Dutch voorwaarde(“condition, terms, proviso, stipulation”). More at fore-, ward.

etymonline

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forward (adv.)

Old English forewearde "toward the front, in front; toward the future; at the beginning;" see fore + -ward. Adjectival sense of "early" is from 1520s; that of "presumptuous" is attested from 1560s. The Old English adjective meant "inclined to the front; early; former."

forward (v.)

1590s, "to help push forward," from forward (adv.). Meaning "to send (a letter, etc.) on to another destination" is from 1757; later of e-mail. Related: Forwarded; forwarding.

forward (n.)

Old English foreweard, "the fore or front part" of something, "outpost; scout;" see forward (adv.). The position in football so called since 1879.