Definition of the word count toward

The phrase "count toward" is an idiomatic expression used to describe the process of adding something to a total or accumulating points. The origin of this expression can be traced back to the medieval English word 'towarde' which was used in a similar way to 'towards' but with a different spelling. Over time, 'towarde' evolved into 'toward' and, in the 18th century, the phrase 'count toward' began to emerge to describe the process of adding or counting something in order to meet a certain requirement or goal. For example, in the realm of education, exam grades 'count toward' a student's overall GPA (Grade Point Average), and in the context of a criminal trial, evidence 'counts toward' a defendant's guilt or innocence. In both cases, the idea is that the item being accounted for is being 'added to' a greater total, with the aim of reaching a particular threshold or target.