aback
Use Aback in a sentence
adverb
1.
toward the back.
2.
Nautical. so that the wind presses against the forward side of the sail or sails.
adjective Nautical.
Idioms 3.
(of a sail) positioned so that the wind presses against the forward side.
4.
(of a yard) positioned so that its sail is laid aback.
5.
taken aback, surprised and disconcerted: I was taken aback by his harsh criticism.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To aback
00:10
Aback
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
aback (əˈbæk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adv | |
| 1. | taken aback |
| a. startled or disconcerted | |
| b. nautical (of a vessel or sail) having the wind against the forward side so as to prevent forward motion | |
| 2. | rare towards the back; backwards |
| [Old English on bæc to the back] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
aback
O.E. on bæc, "at or on the back." Now surviving mainly in taken aback, originally a nautical expression for a sudden change of wind that flattens the square sails back against the masts and stops the forward motion of a ship (1754). The figurative sense is first recorded 1840.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
And then he seems perpetually taken aback when his remarks provoke a backlash.
At first he was a bit taken aback by the budget constraints, but as soon as he made the mental adjustment, he was off and running.
My point is that people want opinions, but are usually taken aback by what they here.
But others involved in the negotiations were taken aback by his optimism.
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