5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Backward  \Back"ward\,  v.  i. 
  To  keep  back  to  hinder.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Backward  \Back"ward\,  Backwards  \Back"wards\,  adv  [Back,  adv  + 
  -ward.] 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Backward  \Back"ward\,  a. 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Backward  \Back"ward\,  n. 
  The  state  behind  or  past.  [Obs.] 
 
  In  the  dark  backward  and  abysm  of  time.  --Shak. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  backward 
  adj  1:  directed  or  facing  toward  the  back  or  rear;  "a  backward 
  view"  [ant:  {forward}] 
  2:  (used  of  temperament  or  behavior)  marked  by  a  retiring 
  nature;  "a  backward  lover"  [ant:  {forward}] 
  3:  retarded  in  intellectual  development  [syn:  {feebleminded}] 
  adv  1:  at  or  to  or  toward  or  the  back  or  rear;  "he  moved  back"; 
  "tripped  when  he  stepped  backward";  "she  looked 
  rearward  out  the  window  of  the  car"  [syn:  {back},  {backwards}, 
  {rearward},  {rearwards}]  [ant:  {forward}] 
  2:  in  a  manner  or  order  or  direction  the  reverse  of  normal; 
  "it's  easy  to  get  the  `i'  and  the  `e'  backward  in  words 
  like  `seize'  and  `siege'";  "the  child  put  her  jersey  on 
  backward"  [syn:  {backwards}] 
  3:  in  or  to  or  toward  a  past  time;  "set  the  clocks  back  an 
  hour";  "never  look  back";  "lovers  of  the  past  looking 
  fondly  backward"  [syn:  {back}]  [ant:  {ahead},  {ahead}] 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z