Old English (in an earlier sense). A merging of two distinct words: (i) Old English aeftanweard from aeftan + -ward; and (ii) Old English aefteweard from the Germanic base of Gothic afta + -ward; ultimately representing parallel formations with different suffixation of the same first element; the two words had apparently already merged in sense in Old English. In later use probably partly re-formed from aft + -ward.