WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Back"ward, Back"wards
Part of Speech : adv.
Etymology : [Back, adv. + -ward.]
Definition : 1. With the back in advance or foremost; as, to ride backward.

2. Toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward.

3. On the back, or with the back downward. Thou wilt fall backward. Shak.

4. Toward, or in, past time or events; ago. Some reigns backward. Locke.

5. By way of reflection; reflexively. Sir J. Davies.

6. From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin. The work went backward. Dryden.

7. In a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily; as, to read backwards. We might have . . . beat them backward home. Shak.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Back"ward
Part of Speech : a.
Definition : 1. Directed to the back or rear; as, backward glances.

2. Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; loath. For wiser brutes were backward to be slaves. Pope.

3. Not well advanced in learning; not quick of apprehension; dull; inapt; as, a backward child. "The backward learner." South.

4. Late or behindhand; as, a backward season.

5. Not advanced in civilization; undeveloped; as, the country or region is in a backward state.

6. Already past or gone; bygone. [R.] And flies unconscious o'er each backward year. Byron.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Back"ward
Part of Speech : n.
Definition : Defn: The state behind or past. [Obs.] In the dark backward and abysm of time. Shak.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Back"ward
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To keep back; to hinder. [Obs.]

i.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913