backwardness
wərd adverb Also, back·wards.
1.
toward the back or rear.
2.
with the back foremost.
3.
in the reverse of the usual or right way: counting backward from 100.
4.
toward the past: to look backward over one's earlier mistakes.
5.
toward a less advanced state; retrogressively: Since the overthrow of the president the country has moved steadily backward.
adjective
6.
directed toward the back or past.
7.
reversed; returning: a backward movement; a backward journey.
8.
behind in time or progress; late; slow: a backward learner; a backward country.
9.
bashful or hesitant; shy: a backward lover.
00:10
Backwardness
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
10.
backward and forward, thoroughly: He knew his lesson backward and forward. Also, backwards and forwards.
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.
Cite This Source
|
Link To backwardness
Collins
World English Dictionary
backward (ˈbækwəd) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | (usually prenominal) directed towards the rear: a backward glance |
| 2. | retarded in physical, material, or intellectual development: backward countries; a backward child |
| 3. | a. of or relating to the past; conservative or reactionary |
| b. (in combination): backward-looking | |
| 4. | reluctant or bashful: a backward lover |
| 5. | chess (of a pawn) behind neighbouring pawns and unable to be supported by them |
| —adv | |
| 6. | a variant of backwards |
| 'backwardly | |
| —adv | |
| 'backwardness | |
| —n | |
| backward (ˈbækwəd) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | (usually prenominal) directed towards the rear: a backward glance |
| 2. | retarded in physical, material, or intellectual development: backward countries; a backward child |
| 3. | a. of or relating to the past; conservative or reactionary |
| b. (in combination): backward-looking | |
| 4. | reluctant or bashful: a backward lover |
| 5. | chess (of a pawn) behind neighbouring pawns and unable to be supported by them |
| —adv | |
| 6. | a variant of backwards |
| 'backwardly | |
| —adv | |
| 'backwardness | |
| —n | |
| backwards or backward (ˈbækwədz) | |
| —adv | |
| 1. | towards the rear |
| 2. | with the back foremost |
| 3. | in the reverse of usual order or direction |
| 4. | to or towards the past |
| 5. | into a worse state: the patient was slipping backwards |
| 6. | towards the point of origin |
| 7. | informal bend over backwards, lean over backwards, fall over backwards to make a special effort, esp in order to please |
| 8. | informal know backwards to understand completely |
| backward or backward | |
| —adv | |
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
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
backward
c.1300, from abakward, from O.E. on bæc + -weard adj./adv. suffix. Backwards, with adverbial genitive, is from 1510s. Meaning "behindhand with regard to progress" is first attested 1690s. To ring bells backward (from lowest to highest), c.1500, was a signal of alarm for fire or invasion, or to
express dismay.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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