Word: backward Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English bakwarde, abakward, equivalent to back (adverb) + -ward. Cognate with Old Frisian bekward (“backward”). Pronunciation: /ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d/, /ˈbækwɚd/ 1. Indicating position or direction. Example: The silt collects in the backward part of the tank. 2. Indicating position or direction. Example: a backward tilt of the head 3. Indicating position or direction. Example: The occasional apparent backward movement of planets is evidence that they revolve around the sun. Example: Engage the lock to prevent backward rotation of the wheel. 4. Indicating position or direction. Labels: figuratively Example: This is a backward step for the country. 5. Indicating position or direction. Example: This backward writing is hard to read. 6. Expressing lack of development or advancement. Labels: figuratively Example: The child is backward in his school work. Example: The effect is to retard their progress—giving them too little opportunity and too little incentive for copying the language of adults— and a little later the child is pained and the parents' ears tingle at hearing a chance remark: “ How terribly backward she is about talking." 7. Expressing lack of development or advancement. Labels: figuratively Example: They were a backward people without any writing. Example: Most cruelly, the immediate security interests of the United States and the states surrounding Somalia are now to keep it a failed state, to prevent Islamists from consolidating even a weak state centered on Mogadishu. The leader of the victorious faction, one Aden Hashi 'Ayro, is said to be a veteran of Afghanistan; he knows well what a small sanctuary in a backward corner of the globe can mean for al Qaeda. 8. Expressing lack of development or advancement. Labels: figuratively Example: a backward child 9. Expressing lack of development or advancement. Labels: figuratively Example: The party’s ideas and policies are very backward. 10. Expressing lack of development or advancement. Labels: figuratively Example: a backward season Example: "[…] I've a job of work to finish tonight; mourning, as must be in time for the funeral to-morrow; and grandfather has been out moss- hunting, and will not be home till late." "Oh, how charming it will be! I'll help you if you're backward. Have you much to do?" 11. Reluctant or unwilling to advance or act; shy. Labels: often Example: She certainly isn’t backward in coming forward! Example: Then her eyes, always alert for the affairs of her kitchen, fell on some action of the Chinese cook which aroused her violent disapproval. She turned on him with a torrent of abuse. The Chink was not backward to defend himself, and a very lively quarrel ensued. 12. Of a pawn, further behind than pawns of the same colour on adjacent files and unable to be moved forward safely. 13. On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease. 14. Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else. 15. Unwilling; averse; reluctant. Labels: obsolete Example: For wiser brutes were backward to be slaves. 16. Already past or gone; bygone. Labels: obsolete Example: The soul forgets her schemes of Hope and Pride, / and flies unconscious o'er each backward year.