> as lemmas

1602 R. Byrchensha Discourse sig. D4 Some of his that were falne in the reare, Stroke such a terror in his foremost men, That downe goes armes and weapons in great haste.

1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. iii. xii. §7. 152 The horse-men..were placed in the flancks, only a troupe of the Eleans were in reare.

1654 E. Wolley tr. ‘G. de Scudéry’ Curia Politiæ 70 To leave no enemy in the rear to march after, and so to flank or offend.

1722 W. Wollaston Relig. of Nature ix. 216 Followed many times by sharp reflections and bitter penances in the rear.

1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 235 With postboy scampering in the rear, They raised the hue and cry.

1848 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 III. vii. 320 One division..was sent to take the stockades in rear, while another..threatened them from the front.

1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xvii. 280 The women..saw, far in the rear,..a party of men looming up.

1857 C. W. Younghusband Handbk. Field Service 208 If possible to take any enemy in rear, it should be done.

1901 R. Kipling Kim vi. 137 Half a mile in the rear, Kim heard a hoarse and joyful clamour rolling down on him through the thick dust.

1941 Battle of Britain Aug.–Oct. 1940 (Min. of Information) 13 Enemy bomber formations were..protected by a box of fighters, some of which flew slightly above to a flank or in rear,..and..others weaving in and out between the sub-formations of the bombers.

2005 G. Åselius Rise & Fall Soviet Navy iii. ix. 129 The Soviet forces, which were to be concentrated in the GOR with a minor reserve in the rear, were estimated as two battleships, three cruisers, [etc.].