Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881), author, biographer, and historian. From other + -wards. Compare Dutch (rare) anderwaarts, German anderwärts.
Definition of otherwards in US English:
otherwards
adverbˈʌðəwədz
In another direction; otherwise.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881), author, biographer, and historian. From other + -wards. Compare Dutch (rare) anderwaarts, German anderwärts.