aback en · ADV · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /əˈbæk/ (General-American)
- /əˈbæk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /əˈbe̞k/ (New-Zealand)
- /aˈbak/ (Geordie)
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- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English abak, from Old English onbæc, equivalent to a- (“towards”) + back. Compare West Frisian tebek (“aback”, adverb, literally “to/at back”), Swedish tillbaka (idem.).
Meanings
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(Geordie, archaic, not-comparable) Towards the back or rear; backwards.
Then stopped, and bounded aback, and away as if in fear, / That I saw her no more; then I wondered though sitting close anear / Was a she-wolf great and grisly.
1889, William Morris, A Tale of the House of the Wolfings and All the Kindreds of the Mark, London: Reeves & Turner, page 31:The mild, though licentious reign, of Louis the Sixteenth, threw France far aback, in her ambitious career; but it gave birth to that revolution, wherein, her warlike propensities and territorial resources were unfolded with tenfold efficacy.
1815, David Laurie, A Treatise on Finance, under which, the General Interests of the British Empire are Illustrated, Glasgow: Chapman, page 322:hoyed aback o' the fire
1970, SCOTT DOBSON, Advanced Geordie Palaver:
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(archaic, not-comparable) In the rear; a distance behind.
There are so many canes upon Reliance that the labourers could not cut those aback, as they prefer cutting those in front. The cane fields aback were in cultivation last year.
1840, “Proceedings of an Inquiry held at plantation Reliance, in the county of Essequibo”, in Papers Relative to the West Indies, 1841: British Guiana, London: H.M.S.O., published 1841, page 201:
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(not-comparable) By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)
I would rather board a hundred of the enemy's frigates, than steer my boat into a fleet of modest women, for a modest woman never fails to take me aback.
1808, The Post-Captain: A View of Naval Society and Manners, 3rd edition, London: Thomas Tegg, page 165:
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(not-comparable) Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way.
As the anchor fetches her up, she will swing head to wind, bringing the head sails aback.
1841, Benjamin J. Totten, Naval Text-book, Boston: Little & Brown, page 144:Q. Was not the Trident at that time aback with one or more Top-sails? A. To the best of my Knowledge she had both Top-sails aback.
1757, Charles Fearne, The Trial of the Honourable Admiral John Byng, at a Court Martial, London: Manby, et al, page 89:Then the sails on the mainmast were backing and we started getting stern way. Eagle was caught aback.
2001, Russell Drumm, The Barque of Saviors, Houghton Mifflin, page 91:
Deriveds
Relateds
Synonyms
back · behind · backwards · rearwards · aft · abaft · unawares · astern
Translations (94)
pt atrás (in the rear) · eo malantaŭa (said of sails pressed backward) · vi trở lại phía sau (in the rear) · nl rugwaarts (backwards) · da bagved (in the rear) · te వెనక్కి (backwards) · ru позади́ (in the rear) · eo malantaŭe (in the rear) · tr geriye (backwards) · hi बोचक्क (backwards) · es atrás (backwards) · om nahuu (backwards) · om na'uu (backwards) · ja 後方へ (backwards) · lv atpakaļ (backwards) · it indietro (backwards) · fi takaisin (backwards) · eo malantaŭen (backwards) · bg отзад (in the rear) · nb forbløffet (by surprise; startled; dumbfounded) · gd air ais (backwards) · ar إِلَى اَلْخَلْف (backwards) · et tagaspidi (backwards) · it di dietro (in the rear) · vi lùi lại (in the rear) · et tagurpidi (backwards) · nb overrumplet (by surprise; startled; dumbfounded) · fa یکه خوردن (backwards) · uk поза́ду (in the rear) · es hacia atrás (backwards) · sv där bak (in the rear) · sh nȁzād (backwards) · uk наза́д (backwards) · sv back (said of sails pressed backward) · nl bak (said of sails pressed backward) · it a collo (said of sails pressed backward) · nb bakk (said of sails pressed backward) · tr pupada (said of sails pressed backward) · it dietro (in the rear) · el προς τα πίσω (backwards) · ru сза́ди (in the rear) · nb paff (by surprise; startled; dumbfounded) · de hinten (in the rear) · gv cooyl (aym) (in the rear) · nb bak (in the rear) · pl do tyłu (backwards) · sh у̀наза̄д (backwards) · vi về phía sau (in the rear) · da baglæns (backwards) · ru наза́д (backwards) · uk зза́ду (in the rear) · nl achteraan (in the rear) · pt para trás (backwards) · fa جاخوردن (backwards) · da bagi (in the rear) · gv çheu choylloo (jeem) (in the rear) · hi पीछ॓ की ओर (backwards) · sh nȁtrāg (backwards) · et tagasi (backwards) · sq prapa (backwards) · nl achterwaarts (backwards) · nl met een kopwind (said of sails pressed backward) · sk naspäť (backwards) · sv bakåt (backwards) · pl wstecz (backwards) · fi pakilla (said of sails pressed backward) · ru про́тив ве́тра (said of sails pressed backward) · el προς τα πίσω (said of sails pressed backward) · fi perässä (in the rear) · pt atrás (backwards) · pl z tyłu (in the rear) · cs s větrem z přídě (said of sails pressed backward) · kk артқа (backwards) · nb bakenfor (in the rear) · fr en arrière (backwards) · om rifachuu (backwards) · bn অবাক (backwards) · fi takana (in the rear) · bn পেছন দিকে (backwards) · bg назад (backwards) · gv ergooyl (said of sails pressed backward) · vi đằng sau (in the rear) · nb bakover (backwards) · sh на̏за̄д (backwards) · sh на̏тра̄г (backwards) · sh ùnazād (backwards) · mi kōpio (said of sails pressed backward) · fa غافلگیرشدن (backwards) · cs zpět (backwards) · fr derrière (in the rear) · de rückwärts (backwards) · pl bieg wsteczny (said of sails pressed backward) · bg заднишком (backwards) · fi taaksepäin (backwards)