'Toward' is Old English for 'turned to' — from PIE *wert- (to turn). Kin to Latin 'vertere.'
In the direction of; getting closer to a state, condition, or goal.
From Old English 'tōweard' (in the direction of, coming, approaching), from 'tō' (to) + '-weard' (in the direction of, turning toward), from Proto-Germanic '*-wardaz' (turned toward), from PIE *wert- (to turn). The suffix '-ward' appears in dozens of English directional words: forward, backward, inward, outward, upward, downward, homeward, afterward. The root connection to 'turning' means that '-ward' words literally describe which way
The '-ward' in 'toward' comes from PIE *wert- (to turn) — the same root that gives Latin 'vertere' (to turn), source of 'reverse,' 'convert,' 'universe,' 'versatile,' and 'vertigo.' Every '-ward' word in English literally describes a 'turning': 'homeward' = 'turned toward home,' 'awkward' = 'turned the wrong way' (from Old Norse 'afugr,' turned backward). Americans prefer 'toward'; the British favor 'towards.'