backward

Definitions

1. 1.Toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward.
2. 2.On the back, or with the back downward. Thou wilt fall backward. Shak.
3. 3.Toward, or in, past time or events; ago. Some reigns backward. Locke.
4. 4.By way of reflection; reflexively. Sir J. Davies.
5. 5.From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin. The work went backward. Dryden.
6. 6.In a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily; as, to read backwards. We might have . . . beat them backward home. Shak.
7. 7.Directed to the back or rear; as, backward glances.
8. 8.Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; loath. For wiser brutes were backward to be slaves. Pope.
9. 9.Not well advanced in learning; not quick of apprehension; dull; inapt; as, a backward child. "The backward learner." South.
10. 10.Late or behindhand; as, a backward season.
11. 11.Not advanced in civilization; undeveloped; as, the country or region is in a backward state.
12. 12.Already past or gone; bygone. [R.] And flies unconscious o'er each backward year. Byron.
13. 13.The state behind or past. [Obs.] In the dark backward and abysm of time. Shak.
14. 14.To keep back; to hinder. [Obs.]

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "backward" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is backward.

• What is toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward called?
• What is on the back, or with the back downward. Thou wilt fall backward. Shak called?
• What is toward, or in, past time or events; ago. Some reigns backward. Locke called?
• What is by way of reflection; reflexively. Sir J. Davies called?
• What is from a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin. The work went backward. Dryden called?
• What is in a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily; as, to read backwards. We might have . . . beat them backward home. Shak called?
• What is directed to the back or rear; as, backward glances called?
• What is unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; loath. For wiser brutes were backward to be slaves. Pope called?
• What is not well advanced in learning; not quick of apprehension; dull; inapt; as, a backward child. "The backward learner." South called?
• What is late or behindhand; as, a backward season called?
• What is not advanced in civilization; undeveloped; as, the country or region is in a backward state called?
• What is already past or gone; bygone. [R.] And flies unconscious o'er each backward year. Byron called?
• What is the state behind or past. [Obs.] In the dark backward and abysm of time. Shak called?