Backward — Defs

01 adv. With the back in advance or foremost; as, to ride backward.

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.
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.

02 a. Directed to the back or rear; as, backward glances.

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.
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.

03 n. The state behind or past.

1.
The state behind or past.[Obs.]
“In the dark backward and abysm of time.” — Shak.

04 v. t. To keep back; to hinder.