[bak-werd] 
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 10. | backward and forward, thoroughly: He knew his lesson backward and forward. Also, backwards and forwards. |
wərd