aback

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   by surprise

   Taken aback by the caustic remarks.

2. 2
   adv

   having the wind against the forward side of the sails

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

3. 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. 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.

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.).

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