Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FOR'WARD-NESS, n.

1. Cheerful readiness; promptness. It expresses more than willingness. We admire the forwardness of Christians in propagating the Gospel.
2. Eagerness; ardor. It is sometimes difficult to restrain the forwardness of youth.
3. Boldness; confidence; assurance; want of due reserve or modesty. In France it is usual to bring children into company, and cherish in them, from their infancy, a kind of forwardness and assurance. – Addison.
4. A state of advance beyond the usual degree; as, the forwardness of spring or of corn.