aback

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /əˈbæk/ UK /əˈbæk/ See IPA manual

Freq #32490

Meanings

1

adv
by surprise

Taken aback by the caustic remarks.
2

adv
having the wind against the forward side of the sails

The ship came up into the wind with all yards aback.
3

adv
Towards the back or rear; backwards.

The mild, though licentious reign, of Louis the Sixteenth, threw France far aback, in her ambitious career; but it gave birth to that revolution, wherein, her warlike propensities and territorial resources were unfolded with tenfold efficacy.
4

adv
In the rear; a distance behind.

There are so many canes upon Reliance that the labourers could not cut those aback, as they prefer cutting those in front. The cane fields aback were in cultivation last year.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

unawares

Word family

Derived forms abackward

Related forms back

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

taken aback
surprised so strongly that one is briefly unsure how to respond

Verb + adverb

Etymology

From Middle English abak, from Old English onbæc, equivalent to a- (“towards”) + back. Compare West Frisian tebek (“aback”, adverb, literally “to/at back”), Swedish tillbaka (idem.).

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# aback

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** /əˈbæk/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈbæk/
**Frequency rank:** 32490

## Meanings
1. by surprise
2. having the wind against the forward side of the sails
3. Towards the back or rear; backwards.
4. In the rear; a distance behind.

## Examples
- Taken aback by the caustic remarks.
- The ship came up into the wind with all yards aback.
- The mild, though licentious reign, of Louis the Sixteenth, threw France far aback, in her ambitious career; but it gave birth to that revolution, wherein, her warlike propensities and territorial resources were unfolded with tenfold efficacy.
- There are so many canes upon Reliance that the labourers could not cut those aback, as they prefer cutting those in front. The cane fields aback were in cultivation last year.

## Synonyms
- unawares

## Derived Forms
- abackward

## Related Forms
- back

## Etymology
From Middle English abak, from Old English onbæc, equivalent to a- (“towards”) + back. Compare West Frisian tebek (“aback”, adverb, literally “to/at back”), Swedish tillbaka (idem.).

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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