a. 1. Moving or extending from a higher to a lower place; tending toward the earth or its center, or toward a lower level; declivous. [ 1913 Webster ]

With downward force
That drove the sand along he took his way. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Descending from a head, origin, or source; as, a downward line of descent. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Tending to a lower condition or state; depressed; dejected; as, downward thoughts. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } adv. [ AS. ad&unr_;nweard. See Down, adv., and -ward. ] 1. From a higher place to a lower; in a descending course; as, to tend, move, roll, look, or take root, downward or downwards. “Looking downwards.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their heads they downward bent. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. From a higher to a lower condition; toward misery, humility, disgrace, or ruin. [ 1913 Webster ]

And downward fell into a groveling swine. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. From a remote time; from an ancestor or predecessor; from one to another in a descending line. [ 1913 Webster ]

A ring the county wears,
That downward hath descended in his house,
From son to son, some four or five descents. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]