backn.1
/bak/, U.S. /bæk/ I. Original sense.
1. properly. The convex surface of the body of persons and vertebrated animals which is adjacent to the spinal axis, and opposite to the belly and most of the special organs. It extends from the neck and shoulders to the extremity of the backbone. †back and side: all over, completely (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > trunk > back > [noun]
ridgeeOE
backc1000
rigc1300
chinec1475
rigginga1522
posteriority?1533
rigback1591
backward1636
the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > that is all or the whole [phrase] > all over
back and sidec1400
all over1633
at every pore1850
c1000 Ags. Ps. cxxix. 3 Ofer minum bæce bitere ongunnon þa firenfullan facen timbrian.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4776 Lende. & lesske. & shulldre. & bacc.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 143 Of bak & of brest al were his bodi sturne.
c1400 Rom. Rose 7318 Til he be slayne, back & side.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 21/1 Bakke, Dorsum.
c1440 Generydes 2155 Ther bakkes and ther belly were soo large.
c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) i. 340 I shuld bete you bak and side.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 115 A Snake..His Belly spotted, burnisht is his Back . View more context for this quotation
1711 E. Budgell Spectator No. 161. ⁋7 A Country Fellow that throws his Rival upon his Back.
1741 A. Monro Anat. Human Bones (ed. 3) 187 The..Vertebræ of the Back.
1789 W. Blake Chimney Sweeper in Songs of Innocence Curled like a lamb's back.
1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in All Year Round 16 June 230/1 He lies on the broad of his back, with his face turned up to the sky.
2. Viewed in reference to its position or functions, as:
a. in humans: the hinder surface of the body, that which is opposite to the front or face, and which is turned upon those who are left behind. (Hence many phrases: see VI.)
ΚΠ
c885 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. ii Ða wendon hí me heora bæc.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Jer. xviii. 17 Bac and not face Y shal shewe to them.
c1500 Robin Hood (Ritson) xv. 121 And there they turnd them back to back.
a1552 J. Leland in T. Keightley Hist. Eng. (1837) I. 328 Her faire yelow haire..hung downe pleyne byhynd her bak.
1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres ii. x. sig. G3v Richard who lookt fortune in the backe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) iv. iii. 398 Thy backe I prythee. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. v. 6 The Army broken, And but the backes of Britaines seene. View more context for this quotation
1873 H. B. Tristram Land of Moab ii. 19 At length we..turn our backs on the outskirts of civilization.
b. that part of the body which is the special recipient of clothing (as the belly is of food); often put for the whole body in this capacity.Originally because simple articles of clothing cover the back completely, but are either open, or merely fastened in front.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > trunk > back > [noun] > part that bears clothing
backc1375
c1375 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. (1869) I. 298 Cloþing boþ for her bedde and bak.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 5130 Clathing bath for bac and bedd.
1549 T. Solme in H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie To Rdr. sig. Avi Borrow of thy two next neighbours, that is to say, of thy backe and thi belly.
1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 14 Suche..as come to decaye..by the pryde of there backs.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 290 What 'tis to cram a maw, or cloath a backe . View more context for this quotation
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xix. 53 Without clothing to his back or shoes to his feet.
1861 A. Trollope Orley Farm (1862) I. vii. 50 It is from the backs and bellies of other people that savings are made with the greatest constancy.
c. the part of the body which bears burdens.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > trunk > back > [noun] > part that bears burdens
backc950
c950 Lindisf. G. Matt. xxiii. 4 Hia gebindas..byrðenna hefiga..in scyldrum vel bæccum monna.
c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame 169 And tooke his fader Anchises And bare hym on hys bakke avay.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3048 Hir sun a-pon hir bak sco bar.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus iv. iii. 49 Wrung with wrongs more than our backs can beare. View more context for this quotation
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. ii. 51 The Backe is Sacrifice to th' load. View more context for this quotation
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. The back is fitted for the burden.
d. in animals, the upper surface opposite to that on which they walk, crawl, or rest: extended from vertebrates to other walking or creeping animals.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > body and limbs > [noun] > back
back1383
dorsum1878
1383 Sir Ferumb. 794 Tak my gode stede..Set me be-for þe on is bak.
c1500 Sir Lancelott 39 in Furniv. Percy Folio I. 86 They horsses bakes brake vnder them.
1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 34 They might have kept his backe..had they not put him beyond his pace.
1735 W. Somervile Chace i. 376 High on their bent Backs erect Their pointed Bristles stare.
1847 W. B. Carpenter Zool.: Systematic Acct. II. §574 The lower side (of Flat-fish) is generally white, whilst the upper is brown; and the former is commonly (but erroneously) regarded as the belly of the fish, and the latter as its back.
1847 W. B. Carpenter Zool.: Systematic Acct. II. §723 The insects of this family swim on their backs.
II. transferred. The surface of things analogous in position to the (human) back; the hinder side.† 6. Of time: the other side of, the time after. Obsolete or dialect.
3. 1845 L. Playfair Rep. Large Towns Lancs. 35 Back-to-back houses cannot be considered dwellings of proper construction.1883 Pall Mall Gaz. 12 Dec. 2 11,000 ‘back-to-back’ houses in the older parts.1901 B. S. Rowntree Poverty vi. 153 Back-to-back houses in which through ventilation is impossible.1940 ‘M. Innes’ There came both Mist & Snow xix. 202 Back-to-backs are monotonous.1948 D. Taylor & C. H. Westcott Princ. Radar v. 79 In..air~borne radars operating on the metre wave-lengths, the back-to-back display..is used. The ‘split’ signals are then displayed on either side of the trace and equality results in the trace bisecting the signal line.1948 D. Taylor & C. H. Westcott Princ. Radar v. 80 (caption) Back-to-back display..used with metric radars.1961 Flight 80 926/1 One of the latest Marconi long-range surveillance radars is the Type S.247, comprising two high-power (2½–3 MW) transmitters..feeding a combined back-to-back aerial system.1951 Good Housek. Home Encycl. 263/2 Back-to-back Grates, in this variant of the combination range..the open fire is placed in the sitting-room and the cooking range at the back, in the kitchen.1955 D. Chapman Home & Social Status 54 The other living-room usually has a ‘back-to-back’ combination fireplace ‘shared’ with the kitchen.1952 N.Y. Times 24 Aug. s1/8 Back to back doubles by Gene Woodling and Joe Collins off Early Wynn in the fourth inning produced the only tally of the day.1968 Mrs. L. B. Johnson Diary 24 Sept. in White House Diary (1970) 709 Today was one of those full, back-to-back Washington days.1974 Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) 27 Oct. 1- c/4 Because he is an aggressive skater, his effectiveness would be limited in back-to-back games.1978 Sunday Times 5 Mar. 18/4 Not that British workers like the night shift... They explain their acceptance of it by pointing out the social barriers to back-to-back shift working.1984 Tampa (Florida) Tribune 5 Apr. 10 c/2 The same teams and players met on back-to-back weeks.
a. gen. That side or surface of any part of the body or of any object, which answers in position to the back; that opposite to the face or front, or side approached, contemplated, or exposed to view; e.g. the back of the head, of the leg; the back of a house, door, picture, bill, tablet, etc. back-to-back: adverbial phrase used attributively, spec. (a) of houses; also elliptical as n.; (b) of an aerial system or display used in radar (see quot. 19481); (c) of a type of combination fireplace (see quots.); (d) chiefly U.S., of events: following one upon another without a break, consecutive; also transferred, full, crowded.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > [noun] > back part or rear
hinder enda1382
back-half1408
backside1417
arse1510
rear1609
postern1611
back-enda1617
arreara1627
back1626
averse1655
posteriorsa1657
ass1700
tail-end1747
rear end1785
west side1829
arse-end1837
hindside1862
ass-end1934
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > [adjective] > successive or following one after another
successive?a1475
progressional1570
consecutive1611
sequenta1616
progressive1620
back-to-back1626
running1682
seriatim1813
straight1899
tandem1926
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surface > [noun] > rear surface
wrong side1511
back1626
backside1645
counterfront1730
reverse1775
society > communication > telecommunication > radio communications > radio equipment > [adjective] > radar apparatus
back-to-back1626
iso-echo1951
moving target1953
monostatic1957
squinted1966
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [adjective] > types of fireplace or grate
back-to-back1626
roundabout1714
grateless1876
fenderless1878
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > a house > types of house > [adjective] > house of specific shape or style
back-to-back1626
detached1706
self-contained1767
ground-floored1824
semi-detached1859
bungaloid1927
bi-level1929
one-up, one-down1933
blind back1937
terraced1958
tri-level1960
split entry1967
two-up two-down1973
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > [adjective] > fully or constantly > of times
throng1615
thronged1774
back-to-back1968
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §856 Trees, set vpon the Backes of Chimneys, doe ripen Fruit sooner.
a1816 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal (rev. ed.) iii. ii, in Wks. (1821) II. 75 He put his name at the back of a bill.
1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. Explan. Terms 94 Back of the post, the after-face of the stern-post.
1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel I. iii. xiii. 213 At the back of the cottage..there are some fields.
1880 L. Stephen Alexander Pope iv. 92 A great part of the Iliad [Pope's] is written upon the backs of letters.
a1885 Mod. Severely hurt about the back of the head.
b. Used elliptically, e.g. in one-pair back, two-pair back, three-pair back, a room at the back of a house on the first, second, third floor. (Cf. front n. 11.)
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > types of room by situation > [noun] > room at the back of a house
back-chamber1535
back-drawing-room1535
back-parlour1535
back room1592
back1836
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 3 I rents a two-pair back, gentlemen.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xxi. 202 In the two-pair back of the house..or in the three-pair front.
1873 J. H. Beadle Undeveloped West xiii. 233 City pastorals, written in a third story back, by men reared in the city.
1883 Mrs. Plunkett in Harper's Mag. Jan. 236/2 Kate was established in the little ‘three pair back’.
1902 H. James Wings of Dove v. xii. 196 The commodious, ‘handsome’ room, far back in the fine old house..the rich dusk of a London ‘back’.
c. to talk out of or through the back of one's neck: see neck n.1
4. spec.
a. The convex or outer side of the hand, opposite to the palm. colloquial phrases: the back of my hand to (something or somebody), a phrase implying contempt and rejection (Scottish and Irish English dialect); to know (something) like the back of one's hand: to be thoroughly familiar or conversant with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > extremities > hand > [noun] > back of
backa1300
dorsum1840
a1300 W. de Biblesworth in Wright Voc. 147 The bac of the hand, la claye dehoris.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. ii. 223 Being offer'd him, he put it by with the backe of his hand thus. View more context for this quotation
1768 A. Ross Rock & Wee Pickle Tow in Fortunate Shepherdess 131 The back o' my hand to the spinning o 't.
1831 S. Lover Legends & Stories Ireland 147 The back o' my hand and the sowl o' my fut to you.
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xiii. 164 As he drew the back of his hand across his lips.
1914 J. Joyce Dubliners 199 ‘And have you nothing for me, duckie?’ ‘O, you! The back of my hand to you!’ said Mrs Kernan tartly.
1943 M. Millar Wall of Eyes 154 I know him as well as I know the back of my hand.
1944 ‘M. Innes’ Weight of Evidence x. 107 I know that book like the back of my hand.
1956 M. Stewart Wildfire at Midnight i. 17 I know the district like the back of my hand.
1968 ‘C. Aird’ Henrietta Who? x. 97 I know that photograph like the back of my hand.
b. The under side of a leaf, which forms the outside before it unfolds.
ΚΠ
1777 J. Lightfoot Flora Scotica II. 671 [Polypodium cristatum] Crested Polypody. Anglis... The fructifications are disposed in numerous small dots, in two rows, upon the back of the pinnules.
a1885 Mod. The back of the leaf is lighter in colour.
c. The convex part of a book, opposite to the opening of the leaves.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > book > parts of book > [noun] > back
dorsea1641
back1863
spine1922
shelf back1925
1863 Bookseller's Catal. Fine copy, calf extra, full gilt backs, marbled edges.
d. The thick edge of a knife or other cutting instrument, opposite to the face, or cutting edge. Hence back and edge: everything, through everything, through thick and thin.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > bluntness > [noun] > blunt part or side
headc1300
platc1395
backc1440
poll1603
flat side1727
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > thoroughly > from beginning to end or through and through
to the boneOE
through and throughc1225
out and outc1300
from top to tail1303
out and inc1390
(from) head to heel (also heels)c1400
(from) head to foot (also feet)c1425
from top to (into, unto) toec1425
to the skin1526
to one's (also the) finger (also fingers') ends1530
from first to last1536
up and down1542
whole out1562
to the pith1587
to the back1594
from A to (also until) Z1612
from clew to earing1627
from top to bottom1666
back and edge1673
all hollow1762
(all) to pieces1788
from A to Za1821
to one's (also the) fingertips1825
to one's fingernails1851
from tip to toe1853
down to the ground1859
to the backbone1864
right the way1867
pur sang1893
from the ground up1895
in and out1895
from soda (card) to hock1902
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 21/2 Bakke of egge toole, Ebiculum.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xliiiiv A graffynge knyfe an inche brode with a thycke backe.
1673 A. Behn Dutch Lover ii. iii. 23 I'l have no more to do with you back nor edge.
a1690 J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Third Pt. (1692) I. 490 Mr. Speaker! fall back! fall edge, I will go down, and perform your commands.
5.
a. The side of any object away from the spectator, or spectators generally, the other or farther side. at the back of: behind, on the farther side of; cf. 23.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > quality of having sides or being a side > [noun] > fact of having distinct sides > one or other side or hand > farther side
back1647
1647 J. Howell New Vol. of Lett. 37 Turning by the back of Afric to the cape of Mozambric.
1696 London Gaz. No. 3242/3 Yesterday appeared on the back of these Sands a Fleet.
1704 London Gaz. No. 4060/5 Passing by the back of the Goodwin Sand.
1865 J. Tyndall Fragm. Sci. viii. §4. 181 A plate of copper against the back of which a steady sheet of flame is permitted to play.
b. Short for back blocks n., back country n.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > a land or country > part of country or district > [noun] > back country or hinterland
backland1683
back country1746
back blocks1872
hinterland1890
back1897
gramadoelas1950
1897 D. McK. Wright Station Ballads 57 I went poisoning out at the back.
a1922 C. G. Turner Happy Wanderer 146 These trips from ‘the Back’ to the town in August are stern affairs.
1932 R. A. K. Mason in Phoenix (N.Z.) I. ii. 9 [He] came out on the ‘back’, as they called the main body of the sheep-run.
1949 P. Newton High Country Days v. 48 An occasional trip out to the ‘back’ to pack firewood to those of the camp sites which had no bush within easy reach.
c. plural. (Also with capital initial.) The gardens behind colleges bordering on the river Cam at Cambridge.
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > leather > [noun] > entire skin > thickest and best tanned
backs1871
1871 London Society Jan. 40/2 Cambridge University Life... You wander through those lovely ‘backs’ of colleges, which might almost be carpeted with poetry.
1882 A. G. Hill Tourist's Guide Cambr. 31 Some of the most charming ‘bits’ in England are to be seen in spring-time at the ‘backs’ of the colleges, where the narrow part of the Cam winds behind S. John's, Trinity, King's, Catherine's, and Queen's colleges.
1925 W. Deeping Sorrell & Son xviii. 170 Sorrell and Kit made their way through Nevil's Court and across the river to the ‘backs’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > succession or following in time > [noun] > later or subsequent period
after age1560
afterday1591
morrowc1595
after-year1625
back1673
afterward1677
after-hour1726
after1830
1673 J. Flamsteed Let. 5 May in Corr. (1995) I. 208 I must be..your debtor till the back of Whitsontide.
III. Parts of things having relation, or analogous in position, to the human back; the hinder part, rear, following.† 7. plural. Clothes. Obsolete.† 8. † 12. A following; a body of followers or supporters; support, backing. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > [noun]
clothesc888
hattersOE
shroudc1000
weedOE
shrouda1122
clothc1175
hatteringa1200
atourc1220
back-clout?c1225
habit?c1225
clothingc1275
cleadinga1300
dubbinga1300
shroudinga1300
attirec1300
coverturec1300
suitc1325
apparel1330
buskingc1330
farec1330
harness1340
tire1340
backs1341
geara1350
apparelmentc1374
attiringa1375
vesturec1385
heelinga1387
vestmentc1386
arraya1400
graitha1400
livery1399
tirementa1400
warnementa1400
arrayment1400
parelc1400
werlec1400
raiment?a1425
robinga1450
rayc1450
implements1454
willokc1460
habiliment1470
emparelc1475
atourement1481
indumenta1513
reparel1521
wearing gear1542
revesture1548
claesc1550
case1559
attirement1566
furniture1566
investuring1566
apparelling1567
dud1567
hilback1573
wear1576
dress1586
enfolding1586
caparison1589
plight1590
address1592
ward-ware1598
garnish1600
investments1600
ditement1603
dressing1603
waith1603
thing1605
vestry1606
garb1608
outwall1608
accoutrementa1610
wearing apparel1617
coutrement1621
vestament1632
vestiment1637
equipage1645
cask1646
aguise1647
back-timbera1656
investiture1660
rigging1664
drapery1686
vest1694
plumage1707
bussingc1712
hull1718
paraphernalia1736
togs1779
body clothing1802
slough1808
toggery1812
traps1813
garniture1827
body-clothes1828
garmenture1832
costume1838
fig1839
outfit1840
vestiture1841
outer womana1845
outward man1846
vestiary1846
rag1855
drag1870
clo'1874
parapherna1876
clobber1879
threads1926
mocker1939
schmatte1959
vine1959
kit1989
1341 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1882) I. 224 Unum indumentum quod dicitur Bak.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2096 Alle his bakkes rente.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. x. 362 Owre bakkes [gloss panni] þat moth-eten be.
c1386 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Prol. & Tale 328 A bak to walken in by day light.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xiv. 72 Fynde beggars bred, backes for þe colde.
a. Armour protecting the back; a back-plate.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > body armour > [noun] > back-plate
reredos1405
back-piece1607
back1651
back-plate1656
1651 O. Cromwell Let. 26 July (Carlyle) It is desired we may have a thousand backs-and-breasts, and fifteen-hundred pots.
1684 True Copy Jrnl. Tryal Charles I 73 He saw the King..in Naseby Field, having Back and Breast on.
1695 R. Blackmore Prince Arthur vii. 197 Some o'er brazen Backs, and Breastplates sweat.
b. figurative. A defence, protection.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > [noun] > means of protection or defence
hornc825
shieldc1200
warranta1272
bergha1325
armour1340
hedge1340
defencec1350
bucklerc1380
protectiona1382
safety1399
targea1400
suretyc1405
wall1412
pavise?a1439
fencec1440
safeguard?c1500
pale?a1525
waretack1542
muniment1546
shrouda1561
bulwark1577
countermure1581
ward1582
prevention1584
armourya1586
fortificationa1586
securitya1586
penthouse1589
palladium1600
guard1609
subtectacle1609
tutament1609
umbrella1609
bastion1615
screena1616
amulet1621
alexikakon1635
breastwork1643
security1643
protectionary1653
sepiment1660
back1680
shadower1691
aegis1760
inoculation1761
buoya1770
propugnaculum1773
panoply1789
armament1793
fascine1793
protective1827
beaver1838
face shield1842
vaccine1861
zariba1885
wolf-platform1906
firebreak1959
1680 W. de Britaine Humane Prudence ix. 24 Your own Innocency will be a Back of Steel unto you.
9. The hind part of a coat or other garment.
ΚΠ
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. What is the material of the back of the vest?
10. The upright hind part of a chair, that supports the back of the sitter; and gen. the hinder portion of any structure.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > [noun] > back part or rear > of any structure
back1530
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > seat > chair > [noun] > parts of chairs > back
chair-bow1483
chair-boll1556
stay1560
back1670
chair-back1747
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 196/1 Backe of a chymney, contre cuevr de la chyminee.
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa i. iii. 78 To sit down..upon a chair without a back.
1716 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 14 Sept. (1965) I. 267 The Arch Dutchesses sit on chairs with backs without arms.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 520 The back of the chimney did not seem to be firmly fixed.
11. The rear of an armed force. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > part of army by position > [noun] > rear
back-wardc1275
rearwarda1325
reredosc1400
reward1440
back-guardc1470
rearguard1481
arrière-guard1489
retroguard1574
arrear-ward1579
forlorn hope1579
train1598
back1600
rear1604
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. iii. 79 He leaues his back vnarmde. View more context for this quotation
1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Antiq. Jews xii. viii, in tr. Josephus Genuine Wks. 381 And fell upon the backs of their enemies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun] > that which or one who supports > one who > group
back1566
support group1940
1566 J. Knox Hist. Reformation in Wks. (1846) I. 89 Without knowledge of any back or battell to follow.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xvi. 670/2 Scotland..was a speciall backe, and Second to King Henry.
1640 R. Baillie Let. 18 Nov. (1841) I. 272 So Pym and his back were removed.
a1676 H. Guthry Mem. (1702) 24 Those that were otherwise minded, would have stay'd with a thin Back.
IV. Surfaces or parts of things analogous to the back of animals.
13. figurative. The surface of a river, the waves, etc., which bears floating burdens. (Cf. bosom n. 2.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > system > [noun] > surface
backa1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) ii. i. 121 I saw him beate the surges vnder him, And ride vpon their backes . View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 112 Swift Rivers, are with sudden Ice constrain'd; And studded Wheels are on its back sustain'd. View more context for this quotation
a1861 A. H. Clough Dipsychus i. v, in Lett. & Remains (1865) 168 We'll take the crested billows by their backs And shake them.
14. The ridge of a hill, of the nose (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > nose > [noun] > ridge
back1615
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > ridge > [noun] > crest of
comba1325
edgec1400
rigging1541
ridge crest1848
ridgetop1849
chine1855
arête1862
back1863
crest-line1890
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 613 The vpper part of the Nose called Dorsum or the backe..the spine or ridge of the Nose.
1863 N. Hawthorne Our Old Home I. 244 We now rambled about on the broad back of the hill.
15. The convex surface of any thing bent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved surface > [noun] > convexity > convex curve or part
convexity1600
convex1680
back1850
outcurve1902
lens1975
1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. Explan. Terms 96 Compass or curved timber, the outside of which is called the Back.
16. Architecture. The upper surface or edge of any horizontal or oblique beam.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > framework of building > [noun] > roof-beam > edge of
back1679
backing1823
1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ix. Explan. Terms 163 Back or Hip-molding, the backward Hips or Valley-Rafter in the way of an Angle.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (at cited word) Back of a hip, among builders, denotes the two planes on the outside of the hip, lying parallel with the adjoining side and end of the roof.
17. The keel and kelson of a ship.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > bottom or part under water > [noun] > keel and kelson
back1692
?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens ii. sig. Fiij The backe is lyke ye kele of a shyp.]
1692 London Gaz. No. 2779/3 A French Ship of 70 Guns..has broke her back.
1883 Contemp. Rev. Aug. 229 A stranded ship with her back broken.
V. Technical uses. (transferred, figurative, and elliptical.)
18. Leather trade. The thickest and best-tanned hides.
ΚΠ
1535 Act 27 Hen. VIII xiv. §5 Any lether called backes or sole lether.
1776 Excise-bk. in Dorset County Chron. 2 June (1881) Kinds of hides:—Sheep and lamb, butts and backs, calves and kipps.
1859 J. E. Worcester Dict. Eng. Lang. (citing Crabb).
19. Mining. (See quots.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral structure or appearance > [noun] > cleavage or fracture
slide1778
back1807
cleavage1830
1807 J. Headrick View Mineral. Arran 45 Similar cracks are formed in stratified sandstone, called by the workmen, slips, cutters or backs.
1849 G. C. Greenwell Gloss. Terms Coal Trade Northumberland & Durham 4 Back, a diagonal parting in coal; a description of hitch, where the strata are not dislocated.
1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) I. 280 Back in mining, that side of an inclined mineral lode which is nearest the surface of the ground. The back of a level is the ground between it and the level above.
20. Jewellery. (See quot. 1879.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > jewellery > neck ornaments > [noun] > locket > part of
back1879
1879 C. Hibbs in Cassell's Techn. Educator IV. 349/2 ‘Back’ which in Jewellers' parlance means either the top or bottom side of the locket.
21. Football. One of the players stationed behind the ‘forwards,’ e.g. ‘half-back,’ ‘three-quarter back’; the duty of the simple ‘back’ is to defend the goal. Also in other games.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > player > types of
striker1699
kicker1829
non-striker1842
feeder1844
stopper1847
defender1851
hand-in1875
hand-out1875
back1880
attacker1884
field general1895
ball carrier1902
ball-handler1912
ball-winner1972
shotmaker1974
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > characteristics of team ball games > [noun] > players or positions
wing-back1734
goalkeeper1789
outfielder1855
quarter1857
centre fielder1865
outfield1867
quarterback1867
right1867
centre1868
left wing1871
left-back1873
left half-back1873
centre forward1874
left-centre1877
right-centre1877
centre back1878
centre half-back1879
forward1879
back1880
right wing1880
right half-back1881
goaltender1882
right-winger1882
wing1882
centre half1884
left winger1884
inside1886
half1887
custodian1888
left half1888
midfielder1888
left wing1889
right half1889
centreman1890
midfield1890
outside right1890
outfieldsman1891
goalie1894
winger1896
infield1897
inside forward1897
inside right1897
outside forward1897
outside1898
outside left1900
rearguard1904
pivot1911
wing-man1942
keeper1957
link1958
linkman1963
midfield1976
1880 Daily Tel. 20 Dec. One of the Northern three-quarter backs sustained an injury to his leg.
1884 Punch 8 Mar. 113/1 To go into this fine manly game [of football] padded..is enough to rouse the ire of any old ‘back’ alive.
1910 Encycl. Brit. XIII. 555/1 [article Hockey] RB, Right Back. LB, Left Back.
1920 E. H. Green Hockey i. 1 The goal-keeper and backs require a heavier stick usually than a half back or a forward.
1968 Sunday Times 17 Mar. 24/6 Their backs hit a succession of long passes for Hennessey and his wings to chase.
22. Sporting. The action of ‘backing’: see back v. 9.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > work done by hounds > [noun] > pointing > following pointing dog
back1859
1859 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports (ed. 4) 35 While his [the dog's] ‘point’ was perfection in beauty and rigidity, the ‘back’ was totally the reverse.
VI. Phrases. (Chiefly from 2a, also 2c.)
23. With prepositions:
a. at the back of: behind, close behind; with the pregnant senses of supporting, following, pursuing, chasing; cf. 5 at the back of one's mind (rarely head): in the underlying or remote part of one's mind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > at the back or in the rear [phrase]
in (also at) the rearward1402
at the back ofc1430
in rear1602
in the rear1602
in (also at, on) one's rear?1624
in arrear1642
in retard1836
in back1961
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > following behind > [phrase] > following closely
at (also on, upon, in) a person's heelsc1300
at the back ofc1430
on, upon the back (of)1614
c1430 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1544) i. i. 2 b At their backe, folowed indigence.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxxxiii. 324 To thentent that they might haue wynter at their backes.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy v. 1902 Hade bir at his bake, and þe bankes leuyt.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. iv. 312 You knew I was at your backe, and spoke it, on purpose. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) ii. v. 133 Edward and Richard like a brace of Grey-hounds..Are at our backes. View more context for this quotation
1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I cxxxvii. 71 Here's my master, With more than half the city at his back.
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xii. 166 Cæsar had the people at his back.
1895 G. Du Maurier in Idler Dec. 420/2 Trilby, as a name, must have been lying perdu somewhere, as they say, ‘at the back of my head’, as important things so often do.
1903 E. Childers Riddle of Sands xxi. 226 At the back of such mind as was left me lodged the insistent thought: ‘we must hurry on’.
1910 S. Reynolds Alongshore i. 5 The deep ground-rumble of London..makes one feel continually, at the back of one's mind, the presence of the great city all around.
1930 ‘J. J. Connington’ Two Tickets Puzzle v. 61 With this at the back of his mind..he had volunteered to carry the news.
b. behind the back of: (emphatic for) behind; in the absence of, out of the sight, hearing, or knowledge of; behind backs, clandestinely. (See also behind adv. 9.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > absence > absent [phrase] > in (a person's) absence > in the absence or without the knowledge of
behind the back ofc1380
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > [adverb]
softlyc1225
by stalea1240
privilya1250
slylyc1275
thieflyc1290
stealingly13..
by stealth1390
stalworthlya1400
theftfullyc1400
theftlyc1400
theftuouslyc1400
under veilc1425
thievishly?c1450
by theft1488
quietly1488
furtively1490
by surreption1526
hugger-muggera1529
in hugger-mugger1529
underhand1538
insidiously1545
creepingly1548
surreptiously1573
underboard1582
filchingly1583
sneakingly1598
underwater1600
slipperily1603
thief-likea1625
clandestinely1632
surreptitiously1643
thievously1658
clancularly1699
stownlins1786
stealthily1806
underhandedly1806
stolen-wise1813
on (upon, under, or by) the sly1818
round-the-corner1820
underhanded1823
stealthfully1828
slinkingly1830
slippingly1830
on the sneak?1863
sneakishly1867
behind backs1874
stalkingly1891
on the side1893
under the counter1926
underground1935
under the table1938
down and dirty1959
sneakily1966
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 281 Þou puttest þi self bi~hinde þi bake.
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iv. i. 28 It wilbe of more price, Being spoke behinde your backe, than to your face. View more context for this quotation
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 12. ¶2 The Mistress..scolds at the Servants as heartily before my Face as behind my Back.
1874 J. P. Mahaffy Social Life Greece iii. 50 They will censure her behind backs.
1883 Statist 21 July While they were maturing their scheme, the Government went behind their backs and concluded an agreement.
c. †on (rarely of), upon back (obsolete): aback, back, backward.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > backwards [phrase]
on (rarely of), upon back1447
in retrograde1821
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) iv. 10 Gang þu on bæc!
1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys 59 She nevr of bak turnyde hyr vysayge.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy xiv. 5957 The batell on backe was borne to þe se.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy xv. 6520 And frusshet þere fos fer vppo backe.
d. on, upon the back of: weighing upon as a burden or incubus; falling upon as an assailant. Also colloquial, harassing, annoying. So get off my back: stop harassing or annoying me.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > [adverb]
grievously1303
teenfullya1375
griefc1400
infestuously1604
on, upon the back of1608
pesteringly1657
harassingly1822
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [phrase] > falling as a burden on
on, upon the back of1608
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear iv. 38 I haue yeares on my backe fortie eight. View more context for this quotation
1677 R. Gilpin Dæmonol. Sacra i. vii. 54 No sooner obtains he a Commission against a Child of God, but presently he is upon his Back.
1776 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) I. 100 We shall have all the powers of Europe on our backs.
1832 H. Martineau Ireland vii. 118 Rather too much to have another [priest]..on their backs.
1880 W. H. Patterson Gloss. Words Antrim & Down 4 ‘I'm never off his back,’ i.e. I'm always watching and correcting him.
1889 ‘M. Twain’ Connecticut Yankee x. 120 I should have had the Established Roman Catholic Church on my back in a minute.
1945 S. J. Baker Austral. Lang. viii. 157 They're on your back, they (usually officers) are overworking you, demanding too much.
1956 A. Miller Mem. Two Mondays in Coll. Plays (1958) 349 So I buy a car, and they're all on my back—how'd I dare buy a car!
1959 J. Cary Captive & Free xxxiv. 146 Well, I didn't want to get into trouble and I didn't want to have him on my back either.
1961 J. Heller Catch-22 (1962) xl. 414 Then stop picking on me, will you? Get off my back, will you?
1968 P. Marlowe Hire me a Hearse ix. 120 If you had tried, Wilma would have phoned Peregrine Porter and told him to get you off her back.
e. on, upon the back (of): (position) behind, in the rear (obsolete): (motion) close behind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > at the back of or behind [preposition]
afterOE
in (also on) the rearward of1591
in (also at, within) (the) rear of1604
on, upon the back (of)1614
back of1694
rearward1778
behind1882
in back ofa1910
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > following behind > [phrase] > following closely
at (also on, upon, in) a person's heelsc1300
at the back ofc1430
on, upon the back (of)1614
1614 in W. Camden Remaines (ed. 2) 233 On the backe, they make men seeme women.
1658 tr. J. Ussher Ann. World 437 Upon the back of these came a thousand.
1663 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim As soon as they had the house on their backs and were come into the open air.
1734 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) III. 564 Several of the Inhabitants on the back of our Mountains.
1783 E. Burke Speech Fox's E. India Bill in Wks. (1842) I. 293 Another reform has since come upon the back of the first.
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. The child took the measles, and then on the back of that came scarlatina.
f. to the back: to the back-bone, all through.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > thoroughly > from beginning to end or through and through
to the boneOE
through and throughc1225
out and outc1300
from top to tail1303
out and inc1390
(from) head to heel (also heels)c1400
(from) head to foot (also feet)c1425
from top to (into, unto) toec1425
to the skin1526
to one's (also the) finger (also fingers') ends1530
from first to last1536
up and down1542
whole out1562
to the pith1587
to the back1594
from A to (also until) Z1612
from clew to earing1627
from top to bottom1666
back and edge1673
all hollow1762
(all) to pieces1788
from A to Za1821
to one's (also the) fingertips1825
to one's fingernails1851
from tip to toe1853
down to the ground1859
to the backbone1864
right the way1867
pur sang1893
from the ground up1895
in and out1895
from soda (card) to hock1902
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus iv. iii. 48 Mettall Marcus, steele to the verie backe. View more context for this quotation
?1706 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft: 2nd Pt. vi. 57 Like little Laud, Mettle to the Back.
g. in back of = back of at back adv. 15. U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > at the back of or behind [preposition]
afterOE
in (also on) the rearward of1591
in (also at, within) (the) rear of1604
on, upon the back (of)1614
back of1694
rearward1778
behind1882
in back ofa1910
a1910 ‘M. Twain’ What is Man? (1917) 165 The picture represents a burning martyr..in back of the smoke.
1925 G. P. Krapp Eng. Lang. in Amer. I. 77 Back of..has a variant form in back of, which completes the analogy to in front of.
1952 F. Bowers in Papers Bibliogr. Soc. Amer. XLVI. 194 This pure form of analytical bibliography lies in back of and leads directly into two other divisions.
1957 J. Kerouac On the Road i. xiii. 102 I was spreading mustard on my lap in back of a parking-lot john.
24. With verbs:† c. to give back (obsolete): to retreat, turn tail, run away.
a. to break the back of: (figurative) to overburden, crush; to finish the hardest part of (a task).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > cause to suffer shipwreck [verb (transitive)] > cause to break up > break back of
to break the back of1623
the world > action or operation > easiness > find no difficulty in [verb (transitive)] > surmount (difficulty or disaster) > a challenging task
to break the back of1873
the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > advance (a proceeding) from previous stage [verb (transitive)] > finish the main part of
to break the neck ofa1592
to break the heart of1679
to break the back of1883
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. i. 84 Many Haue broke their backes with laying Mannors on 'em For this great Iourney. View more context for this quotation
1873 Baily's Monthly Mag. 24 45 Between them they broke the back of the Eton bowling.
1883 E. G. Holtham Eight Years in Japan vii. 151 That I had better stick to my onward route, at any rate till I had ‘broken the back’ of the journey overland to Kiyōto.
1891 R. Kipling Courting Dinah Shadd in Life's Handicap 35 Your flanks are unprotected for two miles. I think we've broken the back of this division.
1901 Westm. Gaz. 9 Mar. 4/1 The back of the fire was broken at noon.
1911 H. S. Harrison Queed iv. 40 The very next day, the back of the morning's mail being broken, [etc.].
1965 ‘R. Erskine’ Passion Flowers in Business viii. 97 ‘Your labours..must be nearing completion.’ ‘I've broken the back of it, oh yes!’
b. to get the back of: to get behind, take in the rear.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (transitive)] > other manoeuvres
geta1400
to get the sun of1598
to get the back of1653
attenda1674
unmask1779
1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre i. 128 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian John..compassed the Trachea, so that he got the Backes of the Enemy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > run away or flee
fleec825
afleeeOE
atrina1000
atfleec1000
to run awayOE
to turn to or into flighta1225
to turn the ridgec1225
atrenc1275
atshakec1275
to give backa1300
flemec1300
startc1330
to take (on oneself) the flighta1500
to take the back upon oneselfa1500
fly1523
to take (also betake) (oneself) to one's legs1530
to flee one's way1535
to take to one's heels1548
flought?1567
fuge1573
to turn taila1586
to run off1628
to take flighta1639
refugea1641
to run for it1642
to take leg1740
to give (also take) leg-bail1751
bail1775
sherry1788
to pull foot1792
fugitate1830
to tail off (out)1830
to take to flight1840
to break (strike, etc.) for (the) tall timber1845
guy1879
to give leg (or legs)1883
rabbit1887
to do a guy1889
high-tail1908
to have it on one's toes1958
a1300 Cursor Mundi 2499 Þe fiue gaue bak to wine a-way.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4390 He drou, sco held, þe tassel brak, þe mantel left, he gafe þe bak.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1822) i. 50 Dredand..to be inclusit on every side..thay gaif bakkis.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy xxiii. 9474 Þai were boun to gyffe bake, & the bent leue.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) v. iv. 124 Thurio giue backe; or else embrace thy death. View more context for this quotation
1661 R. Davenport City Night-cap v, in I. Reed Dodsley's Sel. Coll. Old Plays (1780) XI. 358 Catch'd at thy word, thou giv'st back.
1783 Ainsworth's Thes. Linguæ Latinæ (new ed.) at Back To give back, Pedem referre.
d. to give one the back: to turn away from, disregard him.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose or intention [verb (transitive)] > desert/renounce a cause, principle, or person
withsayc960
forsakec1175
renayc1300
waive1303
to waive from1303
allayc1330
to fall from ——c1350
relinquish1454
forlesec1460
to give over1477
missake1481
return1483
guerpe1484
abrenounce1537
to turn the back uponc1540
renege1548
forspeak1565
recant1567
reject1574
abnegate1616
abrenunciate1618
derelinque1623
ejurate1623
to give one the backa1624
derelinquisha1631
ejure1642
delinquish1645
desert1654
deviate1757
to give up1970
a1624 Bp. M. Smith Serm. (1632) 24 They gaue him the back, and became apostates.
1682 J. Bunyan Holy War 273 Emanuel their Prince has given them the back . View more context for this quotation
e. to give or make a back (at leap-frog, etc.): to bend the body so as to present a surface which may be jumped over.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > children's game > other children's games > [verb (intransitive)] > play leap-frog, etc.
to give or make a back1836
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) vii. 68 Stooping..as if he were ‘making a back’ for some beginner at leap-frog.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair lxi. 554 The Major..was giving a back to Georgy.
f. to put or set up the back: to arch it as angry cats do; to put oneself or another into anger; to arouse.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)]
wrethec900
anbelgheOE
wratha1225
wrakea1300
grievec1350
angera1400
sweata1400
smoke1548
to put or set up the back1728
to have (also get) one's monkey up1833
to get (also have) the pricker1871
to have, get a cob on1937
grrra1963
the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (transitive)] > make angry
wrethec900
abelgheeOE
abaeileOE
teenOE
i-wrathec1075
wratha1200
awratha1250
gramec1275
forthcalla1300
excitea1340
grieve1362
movea1382
achafea1400
craba1400
angerc1400
mada1425
provokec1425
forwrecchec1450
wrothc1450
arage1470
incensea1513
puff1526
angry1530
despite1530
exasperate1534
exasper1545
stunt1583
pepper1599
enfever1647
nanger1675
to put or set up the back1728
roil1742
outrage1818
to put a person's monkey up1833
to get one's back up1840
to bring one's nap up1843
rouse1843
to get a person's shirt out1844
heat1855
to steam up1860
to get one's rag out1862
steam1922
to burn up1923
to flip out1964
1728 C. Cibber Vanbrugh's Provok'd Husband v. iii. 94 O Lud! how her Back will be up then, when she meets me.
1845 B. Disraeli Sybil I. i. iii. 27 But the other great whig families..set up their backs against this claim of the Egremonts.
1864 Sunday Mag. 1 79 He goes his own way..if you put his back up.
c1870 H. E. P. Spofford Pilot's Wife in C. Gibbon Casquet of Lit. (1877) IV. 9/1 The..cat used to put up her back at the three.
g. to turn the back: to turn away from facing, go away, flee; to turn the back upon: to turn definitely from, abandon, forsake.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away from [verb (transitive)]
leaveeOE
beleavea1250
devoidc1325
voidc1330
roomc1400
wagc1400
departa1425
refusea1425
avoid1447
ishc1450
remove1459
absent1488
part1496
refrain1534
to turn the backc1540
quita1568
apart1574
shrink1594
to fall from ——1600
to draw away1616
to go off ——a1630
shifta1642
untenant1795
evacuate1809
exit1830
stash1888
split1956
the world > space > direction > point or lie in a direction [verb (intransitive)] > turn round or to face a direction > turn away
abowOE
hieldc1275
to turn awayc1300
to hide one's facea1382
wrenka1400
awherfc1400
avert1483
to turn the backc1540
twine1600
averse1652
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > turn back or reverse course
turnc1275
to turn aboutc1330
repeata1382
to turn againc1384
to turn backc1425
re-turn1483
resore1486
to turn the backc1540
to turn round1560
to set back1803
resile1887
to break back1933
the world > space > direction > specific directions > have specific directions [verb (intransitive)] > have backward direction or turn back > turn the back
to turn the backc1540
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose or intention [verb (transitive)] > desert/renounce a cause, principle, or person
withsayc960
forsakec1175
renayc1300
waive1303
to waive from1303
allayc1330
to fall from ——c1350
relinquish1454
forlesec1460
to give over1477
missake1481
return1483
guerpe1484
abrenounce1537
to turn the back uponc1540
renege1548
forspeak1565
recant1567
reject1574
abnegate1616
abrenunciate1618
derelinque1623
ejurate1623
to give one the backa1624
derelinquisha1631
ejure1642
delinquish1645
desert1654
deviate1757
to give up1970
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy iv. 1348 The Troiens..turnyt þe bake, ffleddon in fere.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. i. 130 The shame Of those that turnd their backes . View more context for this quotation
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear i. 165 To turne thy hated backe Vpon our kingdome. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Sam. x. 9 When he had turned his backe to go from Samuel. View more context for this quotation
c1680 W. Beveridge Serm. (1729) I. 99 If you turn your backs and refuse to..hearken.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 108. ¶4 Sir Roger's Back was no sooner turn'd but honest Will. began.
1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood III. vii. 164 I never turned my back on my leader yet.
h. to put one's back into, to employ the whole strength of one's back in (rowing, lifting, hauling, etc.). Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [verb (transitive)] > exert (one's strength or powers) to the utmost > put all one's strength into
to put one's back into1882
1882 R. L. Stevenson New Arabian Nights II. 193 They put their back into their work, they sang loud and louder.
1885 H. R. Haggard King Solomon's Mines xviii. 291 Tackle on, and put your back into it; you are as strong as two.
1889 A. Conan Doyle Micah Clarke iv. 28 Pull, Micah! Put your back into it!
1952 M. Laski Village i. 21 You can get it done in half the time if you only put your back into it.
25. complex.† b. to have by the back: to lay hold of, seize.† c. to take the back upon oneself: to flee.
a. to be or lie on one's back: to be laid up, to be afflicted; also, figurative to be prostrate, helpless; to lay any one on his back, to prostrate, floor, lay low.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)] > bring to lower condition or lay low
settle1338
subduea1500
decaya1535
redact1542
reduce1567
to lay any one on his back1662
the world > action or operation > adversity > be in adversity [verb (intransitive)] > fall from prosperous or thriving condition > be in low condition
to be or lie on one's back1840
the world > health and disease > ill health > be in ill health [verb (intransitive)] > be restrained by ill health
liea1400
to keep one's bed1534
to be or lie on one's back1841
1662 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 3rd Pt. 280 They never look up to heaven, till God layes them on their back.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxviii. 312 He confessed the whole matter; acknowledged that he was on his back.
1841 G. Catlin Lett. N. Amer. Indians II. xlv. 80 Sick and very feeble, having been for several weeks upon my back.
1904 McClure's Mag. Feb. 366/1 The employers of San Francisco are flat on their backs..; when a labor leader makes a demand we give in without a word.
1938 New Statesman 21 May 863/2 ‘Speciality selling’..is the last refuge of the man who is ‘on his back’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > lay hold of or grasp
i-fangc888
gripc950
repeOE
befongOE
keepc1000
latchc1000
hentOE
begripec1175
becatchc1200
fang?c1200
i-gripea1225
warpa1225
fastenc1225
arepa1250
to set (one's) hand(s onc1290
kip1297
cleach?a1300
hendc1300
fasta1325
reachc1330
seizec1374
beclipc1380
takea1387
span1398
to seize on or upon1399
getc1440
handc1460
to catch hold1520
to take hold1530
to lay hold (up)on, of1535
grasple1553
to have by the backa1555
handfast1562
apprehend1572
grapple1582
to clap hold of1583
comprehend1584
graspa1586
attach1590
gripple1591
engrasp1593
clum1594
to seize of1600
begriple1607
fast hold1611
impalm1611
fista1616
to set (one's) hand to1638
to get one's hands on1649
a1555 N. Ridley Wks. (1841) 67 Else thou must be had by the back.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 146 Then brother I haue you by the backe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > run away or flee
fleec825
afleeeOE
atrina1000
atfleec1000
to run awayOE
to turn to or into flighta1225
to turn the ridgec1225
atrenc1275
atshakec1275
to give backa1300
flemec1300
startc1330
to take (on oneself) the flighta1500
to take the back upon oneselfa1500
fly1523
to take (also betake) (oneself) to one's legs1530
to flee one's way1535
to take to one's heels1548
flought?1567
fuge1573
to turn taila1586
to run off1628
to take flighta1639
refugea1641
to run for it1642
to take leg1740
to give (also take) leg-bail1751
bail1775
sherry1788
to pull foot1792
fugitate1830
to tail off (out)1830
to take to flight1840
to break (strike, etc.) for (the) tall timber1845
guy1879
to give leg (or legs)1883
rabbit1887
to do a guy1889
high-tail1908
to have it on one's toes1958
a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 1492 It haith gart o thousand tak At onys apone them-self the bak.
d. with or having one's back at or to the wall: hard-pressed, struggling against odds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > in adversity [phrase] > at the end of one's resources
with or having one's back at or to the wall1535
at a or to the bay1596
to be at the end of one's rope1686
one's rope is out1686
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 73 That we may haif thair bakis at the wall, Without defend that ar oure commoun fa.
1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters 536 I ill liked to see him with his back to the wall.
Draft additions 1993
Also in back, in or at the back (North American colloquial); cf. in front at front n. 10b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > at the back or in the rear [phrase]
in (also at) the rearward1402
at the back ofc1430
in rear1602
in the rear1602
in (also at, on) one's rear?1624
in arrear1642
in retard1836
in back1961
1961 Northwest Rev. 4 54 ‘In back, buddy,’ the driver said to me.
1974 R. M. Pirsig Zen & Art of Motorcycle Maintenance ii. viii. 104 He's got to close a deal out in back on some Harley parts. I go with him out in a shed in back and see he is selling a whole Harley machine in used parts.
1987 New Yorker 5 Jan. 39/1 In front of the house was a small lawn.., and in back were another lawn, a small garden, and a garage.
Draft additions January 2005
Photography. A removable rear part of a camera body, originally housing the photographic plate and now containing equipment which alters or enhances the camera's functionality. Frequently with modifying word.repeating back, swing-back: see the first element. See also databack n.
ΚΠ
1858 Times 24 June 3/1 (advt.) Wanted to purchase, a good camera..with a swing back.
1896 Jrnl. Anthropol. Inst. 25 79 The camera, double backs, lenses, &c., will be in a solid leather case.
1927 Amateur Photographer 29 June (Suppl.) 12/1 (advt.) 31/ 4 × 21/ 4 Regular Ensign Roll Film with Plate Back.
1957 Science 22 Feb. 330 (advt.) Interchangeable backs for 35mm-120 Roll Film-31/ 4 × 41/ 4″ -4 × 5″ Polaroid.
1990 Brit. Jrnl. Photogr. 19 July 5/2 In the..burglary, equipment stolen included: a Pentax 645 camera, lenses, and backs.
2002 Petersen's Photogr. Nov. 19/1 Some are offering high-resolution digital backs for their camera bodies, while others are releasing new digital cameras.
Draft additions April 2010
Chiefly British. on (also off) the back of: on the basis of; by capitalizing on the work or success of.
ΚΠ
1906 Baily's Mag. Jan. 30/2 On the back of every successful form of enterprise kindred ventures are too often floated without much regard to the question of whether they contain the elements of success.
1928 Times 1 June 24/4 The insult of maintaining it [sc. another company's undue share of the kerosene trade] on the back of their own stolen Russian oil would not be permitted.
1993 Accountancy Oct. 49/1 Off the back of its tea business Moran diversified into freight.
2004 H. Kennedy Just Law (2005) xiii. 278 The government wins support for the entitlement card on the back of asylum scares.
Draft additions December 2006
colloquial (originally U.S.).
a. to watch one's back: to be on one's guard; to be alert to a possible (physical) threat to oneself (sometimes literally an attack from behind). Frequently in imperative as a warning or threat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > be vigilant or on one's guard [verb (intransitive)]
watcha1225
warea1325
bewarea1400
keepc1400
waitc1400
lay good waitc1440
to lie in great waitc1440
to look out?1553
to look about1599
awake1602
advigilate1623
to keep an eye open1651
perdue1656
to look sharp1680
waken1682
tout1699
to keep a sharp look-out1827
to keep one's weather-eye open1829
to keep (also have) an eye out1833
to keep one's eyes peeled1844
to watch out1845
to skin one's eyes1851
to have (also keep) one's eye on the ball1937
to watch one's back1949
1949 L. Floren Milk River Range xix. 203 They're after you, too. Watch your back, Tortilla. I don't trust this Jesse Smith one inch.
1979 Washington Post (Nexis) 3 Jan. c1 You wouldn't have to be watching your back all the time and afraid to go out after dark.
1991 R. S. Jones Force of Gravity (1992) iii. i. 258 He walked more nervously than ever, like a snitch, always watching his back.
1996 Rolling Stone 4 Apr. 24/2 We had to watch our backs.., never knowing when somebody might do a drive-by.
2002 T. Lee et al. Mötley Crüe vii. 178 I know where you park your car! I know where you live! You better watch your back!
b. to watch a person's back: to protect or guard a person against potential attack (sometimes literally from behind); (also) to support or assist a person.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [verb (intransitive)]
holdc1000
accede?a1475
to watch a person's back1974
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > watch or keep guard [verb (intransitive)]
to stand upon one's watch1535
sentinel1593
to lie (also stand, stay, etc.) perdu1607
to mount (the) guard1669
to keep guard1712
sentry1910
to watch a person's back1974
1974 ‘J. le Carré’ Tinker, Tailor xvii. 145 Clear a foreign letter box, prime a safe house, watch someone's back, spike an embassy.
1986 M. Hartland Third Betrayal ii. 20 I imagine you'll take someone to watch your back.
1991 News Jrnl. (Wilmington, Delaware) 15 Aug. d1/3 They opened [a restaurant] in January 1989... Eric promised he'd hang around for a year ‘to watch my back,’ Chuck said.
2002 W. Rhode Paperback Raita (2003) 365 I need you to watch my back. I think Dowdy wants me out of the picture.
Draft additions August 2007
North American colloquial (originally in African-American usage). to get (also have) a person's back: = to watch a person's back.
ΚΠ
1975 J. De Jongh Hail, hail, Gangs! (Electronic ed.) 6 Two of them and one of you, but I got your back. Kick both of them in the ass.
1985 Washington Post 29 Mar. e5/3 Don't worry, Coach, I've got your back.
1996 J. Díaz Drown 209 My family had my back for years.
2001 National Post (Canada) 4 Apr. b12/5 The league's got his back now, but the league can't have his back all the time.
Draft additions January 2018
back labour n. severe back pain experienced during childbirth, typically felt as an accompaniment to uterine contractions; a labour in which the mother experiences severe back pain of this kind.
ΚΠ
1863 P. H. Chavasse Advice to Wife Managem. Health (ed. 5) 115 In a ‘back-labour’, the patient will derive comfort from having her back held by the nurse.
1972 C. A. Bean Methods Childbirth ii. 84 Another technique has been used in some back labors where the contraction is felt in the back.
1998 Times 23 June 12/3 I've had a few back problems. When I gave birth to my boys I had back labour.
2014 J. Petersheim Midwife 150 I had such excruciating back labor that Deborah..had been forced to hold my shoulders and press her knee into the small of my back, or else I would writhe and howl in pain.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
backn.2
/bak/, U.S. /bæk/ A large shallow vessel (chiefly for liquids); a tub, trough, vat, cistern; esp. applied to those used by brewers, dyers, and picklers.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > open vessels for liquids > [noun] > vat
keevec1000
vata1225
drenche-kivea1300
fatc1450
kier1573
back1682
1682 London Gaz. No. 1684/4 To be Sold, six Backs, several Stills and Worms.
1737 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. (ed. 3) at Anil Backs or Vats of Stone-work, well cemented.
1791 W. Hamilton tr. C.-L. Berthollet Elements Art of Dyeing I. i. ii. ii. 159 Long copper or wooden vessels, called troughs or backs.
1794 G. Adams Lect. Nat. & Exper. Philos. I. x. 479 The gaseous atmosphere of a back of beer in fermentation.
1811 Mem. R. Cecil Introd. 8 His father had in this ground several large backs of water.
1817 W. Scott Rob Roy III. i. 13 Narrowly escaping breaking my shins over a turf back and a salting tub.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
backadj.
/bak/, U.S. /bæk/ I. From the noun.
1.
a. Situated behind or in the rear, or away from the front.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > [adjective]
afterOE
afterwardOE
hinderc1290
hinderera1340
hinda1400
backc1490
reara1500
posterior1578
rearward1581
backwarda1616
hindsome1634
postica1638
averse1646
postern1648
postical1657
reverse1675
aft1711
retrospective1785
hindward1797
retral1822
western1829
postjacent1878
c1490 Adam Bel 121 in J. Ritson Pieces Anc. Pop. Poetry (1791) 10 William opened hys backe wyndow That was in hys chambre on hye.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xxxiii. 23 Thou shalt se my back partes, but my face shal not be sene.
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie 58 When there is still some backe nooke behinde.
1683 J. Ray Corr. (1848) 134 A small flat back claw, or toe.
1703 London Gaz. No. 3885/4 Lost..out of a back Shead, 4 peices of Crape.
1806 W. Taylor Ann. Rev. 4 886 The Ohio should..have been made the back line of boundary.
1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. vii. 66 A little morocco box, which..contained the Major's back teeth.
1870 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows 3 A stilted plover with no back toe.
a1885 Mod. The occupants of the back seats.
1887 Lippincott's Monthly Mag. Sept. 421 We..sot an' spit at each other, like two tom-cats on a back fence.
1912 N. M. Woodrow Sally Salt 24 She could really have believed that she could transform me from an eager back-fence prowler.
1949 R. K. Merton in Lazarsfeld & Stanton Communications Research, 1948–9 ii. 206 Walter Winchell, who reports the Broadway version of intimate gossip across the backfence.
b. sometimes with the inferred sense of ‘distant, outlying, remote,’ as in back country n., back settlement. Also back area: a region behind a field of operations (esp. Military).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > distance or farness > [adjective] > remote or inaccessible
outc1425
inaccessible?a1475
out-way1532
deviate1575
unaccessible1596
reachless1597
devious1599
wandering1600
untouchable1622
outlying1651
back1683
no-nationa1756
out-of-the-way1756
outlandish1792
eccentric1800
outworld1808
out-by1816
outside1847
off-lying1859
unget-at-able1862
far-out1887
far-back1900
society > armed hostility > armed encounter > battlefield > [noun] > front or front line > area behind battle-zone
back area1923
firebase1955
1683 W. Penn Let. Free Soc. Traders 1 The Back-Lands being..Richer than those that lie by Navigable Waters.
1759 R. Jackson Hist. Rev. Pennsylvania 281 To fall on the Back Settlements, of Pensylvania.
1783 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) I. 248 The back lands are as important in the eyes of some, as the fisheries.
1803 T. R. Malthus Ess. Princ. Population (new ed.) i. i. 4 In the back settlements, where the sole employment was agriculture.
1923 R. Kipling Irish Guards in Great War I. p. vii The farthest back-areas where the enemy aeroplanes harried their camps.
1937 Times 25 Oct. 13/4 It [sc. a speech] called shame on the back-area workers who shirked extra hours and thereby helped the enemy.
1940 E. C. Shepherd Britain's Air Power 6 The bomber..might have to travel only 50 miles from our own lines in France to the back areas of the German Army to bomb dumps.
1956 Planning 22 59 Land that has been left derelict for many years with top soil destroyed exists as a consolidated mass of weed-covered uneven land... Such areas, often referred to as ‘back-areas’, have to be bulldozed and scraped level.
c. often with that of ‘inferior, mean, obscure,’ as in back alley, back lane, back road, back slum, back street.In this sense formerly compared backer adj., backermost adj., backmost adj. Only the last is now in ordinary use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > inferior thing > [adjective]
salec1299
bastarda1348
sorry1372
slight1393
shrewd1426
singlec1449
backc1450
soberc1450
lesser1464
silly?a1500
starven1546
mockado1577
subaltern1578
bastardly1583
wooden1592
starved1604
perishing1605
starveling1611
minor1612
starvy1647
potsherd1655
low1727
la-la1800
waif1824
lathen1843
one-eyed1843
snide1859
bobbery1873
jerkwater1877
low-grade1878
shoddy1882
tinhorn1886
jerk1893
cheapie1898
shaganappi1900
buckeye1906
reach-me-down1907
pissy1922
crappy1928
cruddy1935
el cheapo1967
pound shop1989
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > street > [noun] > back street
back streetc1450
back-double1932
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > town as opposed to country > town or city > part of town or city > [adjective] > inferior, unsightly, or disreputable part
backc1450
blighted1938
skid row1948
sink1967
c1450 in Middle Eng. Dict. Backe strete.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 27 Socrates mette full butte with Xenophon, in a narrowe backe lane, where he could not stert from hym.
1612 L. Bayly Practise of Pietie (ed. 2) 292 Send some part of thy dinner to the poore, who lies sicke in the backe-lane without any foode.
1638 in Rec. Early Hist. Boston (1878) III. 6 One acre and haulfe..butting south west upon the back streete.
1708 Boston News-let. 22 Mar. 2/2 There is a..dwelling house to be lett in the back-street.
1764 J. Kirby Suffolk Traveller (ed. 2) 280 The Back-Road from Woodbridge to Blithborough by Snape Bridge.
1842 Times 12 Sept. 6/2 The city police..desert the back lanes.
1847 F. A. Kemble Let. 16 Dec. in Rec. Later Life (1882) III. 317 Walking up a small back street..I saw a little child..standing at a poor mean kind of pastry-cook's window.
1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in All Year Round 26 May 157/1 A back street in the neighbourhood of Walworth.
1865 Athenæum 28 Jan. 124/1 Imprisoned in the back slums of Westminster.
1865 H. B. Stowe House & Home Papers ii. 22 A little dingy den, with a window looking out on a back-alley.
1887 Cent. Mag. July 331 The road is what is called a ‘back road’, and leads through woods most of the way.
1894 ‘M. Twain’ Pudd'nhead Wilson xvii. 223 He said they were back-alley barbers disguised as nobilities.
1898 Westm. Gaz. 6 Apr. 9/3 It was indeed remarkable what a knowledge these back-street children had of flowers.
1920 W. Stevens Let. 2 Dec. (1967) 220 The bouquet in this month's Poetry will drive me to back alleys.
1934 E. Blunden Mind's Eye iii. 167 A back-alley cinema.
1957 J. L. Hodson in ‘C. H. Rolph’ Human Sum x. 192 The woman..who goes to the back~street abortionist.
d. Phonetics. Of a sound: formed by restriction of the oral passage at the back of the mouth; formed by the back or root of the tongue. Also in combinations, as back-lateral adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > speech sound by place or organ > [adjective] > lingual > by position of tongue
fronted1615
back1867
front1867
inner1867
outer1867
1867 A. M. Bell Visible Speech: Sci. Universal Alphabetics 61 The ‘shut’ consonants are sufficiently distinguished..by the four radical varieties ‘Back’, ‘Front’, ‘Point’, ‘Lip’.
1867 A. M. Bell Visible Speech: Sci. Universal Alphabetics 72 The vowels..are divided into three classes of palato-lingual formations, according as the oral cavity is moulded mainly by the ‘Back’, the ‘Front’, or the ‘Mixed’ (Back and Front) attitudes of the tongue. The ‘Back’ vowels have the largest oral cavities.
1877 H. Sweet Handbk. Phonetics 11 ‘Back’ (guttural) vowels, in which the tongue is retracted as much as possible.
1877 H. Sweet Handbk. Phonetics 31 By place there are five main classes [of consonants]. (1) Back (guttural) formed by the root of the tongue and the soft palate..(2) Front (palatal)..(3) Point..(4) Teeth..(5) Lip.
1910 Mod. Lang. Rev. 5 91 A back-modified glide or murmur vowel develops between a long vowel and a back-lateral.
1962 A. C. Gimson Introd. Pronunc. Eng. iv. 41 Naming those vowels..in which the back of the tongue is raised towards the soft palate back vowels.
e. back mutation n. [ < back n.1 + mutation n. 5c] Phonology In Old English, a change in the sound of the vowels æ, e, i, which were diphthongized to ea (= æa), eo, io, when a back vowel stood in the following syllable.
ΚΠ
1914 H. C. Wyld Short Hist. Eng. v. 74 Back-, or u-Mutation. All the O.E. dialects are to some extent subject to this change, which consists in diphthonging i, e, and in Mercian æ, when u, or o (from earlier -an) followed in the next syllable, e.g. *heƀun becomes heofon.
1927 E. V. Gordon Introd. Old Norse 254 The Old English equivalent of ON. fracture is the so-called back mutation.
1953 L. F. Brosnahan Some Old Eng. Sound Changes 89 The phenomenon of back-mutation is based on the same process of regressive influence of one vowel on another, but the nature and effect of the influence in this case is different from that in i-mutation.
f. back row n. of a chorus, line of dancers, etc.; in Rugby, the last line of forwards in a scrummage.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > types of player > specific group of players
back row1881
pack1887
second row1892
scrum1898
1881 W. S. Gilbert Foggerty's Fairy iii. 70 I should be at once relegated to the back rows [in a ballet], among the stout ones.
1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 408/1 The wheel is made on the most favourable side by the back row bringing the ball round to the front.
1906 D. Gallaher & W. J. Stead Compl. Rugby Footballer vii. 100 Advantages of the New Zealand system... Two fast men in the back row [of the scrum].
1906 D. Gallaher & W. J. Stead Compl. Rugby Footballer vii. 105 In the back row of the scrum we [sc. New Zealanders] put two of the fastest forwards and two of the best collarers that we can find.
1906 D. Gallaher & W. J. Stead Compl. Rugby Footballer vii. 106 The side-row men press on the hookers, and the back-row men push against the lock.
1952 W. Granville Dict. Theatr. Terms 21 She came from the back row of the chorus, said of an actress who has risen the hard way, from the smallest beginnings.
1959 Times 30 Nov. 3/7 The Swansea back-row gave Croker and Fitch room to move.
2. Used to distinguish that one of two things (or sets of things) which lies behind the main or front one, and is more or less subsidiary to it. In this case it is more usual to use the hyphen: see back- comb. form 1b(b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > [adjective] > distinguishing one of two
back1535
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > inferior thing > [adjective] > subsidiary
back1535
subsidiary1603
subsidary1628
parhedral1884
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Kings vii. 8 Ye back courte made betwene ye house and the porche.
1592 R. Greene Notable Discouery of Coosenage (new ed.) sig. E4 The flax-wife..conueyd them into a back room.
1713 R. Steele in Guardian 18 June 2/2 The young Poets are in the back Room.
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 169 Coming unexpected, from a back parlour into the shop.
1812 T. Hall in Examiner 31 Aug. 551/2 Which he traced to the back kitchen.
1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies i. 21 The back staircase from the Tajmahal at Agra.
II. From the adverb.† 4. That holds one back. Obsolete. rare.† 5. Turning or looking backward. Obsolete. rare.
3.
a. In arrear, overdue; behindhand. Of rent, taxes, etc. back pay, back payment, payment to cover a past period of time; also back salary, back wages, etc. Also back time.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > insolvency > indebtedness > [adjective] > owed > overdue
back1525
overdue1805
past-due1896
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for labour or service > [noun] > payment to cover past time
back pay1804
back payment1814
back wages1888
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. ccvii. [cciii.] 639 To fynde syluer to mayntayne it withall, he founde out subtelly a backe tayle.
1779 W. McKendry Jrnl. 21 July in Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1886) II. 460 [He] received 500 lashes, it being back allowance due to him.
1804 in G. L. Wardle Rep. Charges against Duke of York (1809) 542 In which case, if approved, Mr Dundas would not object to allow them back-pay.
1810 G. R. Minot Insurrections in Mass. (ed. 2) 59 They completed an act providing for the payment of the back taxes in specifick articles.
1811 in Rec. Early Hist. Boston (1908) XXXVIII. 25 Messrs. Crane & Sohier having given up their office in the Town house.—to be notified to settle their back rent with the Treasurer.
1814 J. Mayne Jrnl. (1909) 128 And [the postilion] when we refused told us we had passed a bridge for which he was to take back payment, one franc.
1841 S. Warren Ten Thousand a-Year II. v. 133 Whether you have come to any arrangement with your late opponent concerning the back-rents.
1843 C. Dickens Christmas Carol v. 159 Not a farthing less. A great many back-payments are included in it.
1874 ‘M. Twain’ Sketches XIX. 408 Nearly all the back pay members contemplate making the round trip with us.
1888 A. C. Gunter Mr. Potter xviii. 225 He was paying him back wages.
1905 N.Y. Evening Post 29 Nov. 10 Nearly two hundred claims for back pay.
1906 N.Y. Evening Post 26 Dec. 8 It is a disgrace to the city that he should be compelled to sue for back salary.
1912 N.E.D. at Time sb. An account or certificate showing the days, hours, etc. worked, and wages due: usually called back time... Mod. If you can't move a bit quicker, I'll send you to get your back time.
b. Belonging to past time; see also back number n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > [adjective]
formerc1160
apassedc1314
past1340
preterite1340
eldera1400
elderna1400
eldernlya1400
bygone1424
bypast1452
ancient1490
by-runa1522
bywenta1522
spent1528
departed1552
forepassed1557
preter1578
by-come1592
worn-out1594
preterlapsed1599
foregone1609
worna1616
elapseda1644
lapsed1702
surpassed1725
gone-by1758
back1808
old-time1865
by-flown1884
1808 Sporting Mag. 33 99/2 Your neat, elegant, and conveniently sized back volumes.
1869 Contemp. Rev. 11 342 It is the duty of the resident governess..to see that the knowledge of back work is carefully kept up.
1910 ‘R. Dehan’ Dop Doctor (1911) xxxix. 363 To its back-files I must refer those who seek a fuller account.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [adjective] > hindering or retarding
back1628
retardant1642
retarding1654
tardative1666
retardive1787
retardatory1843
hold-back1852
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xix. sig. L7 Take away from him those back feares, that would speake him to bee but fragile man.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > [adjective] > retiring, withdrawing, or retreating
retiringc1595
withdrawing1611
back1633
retreating1643
recondite1835
recedent1849
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island xi. xlviii. 157 The false-back Tartars..in flying ranks, Oft backward turn.
6. Coming back, returning.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > return > [adjective]
returning1581
returneda1586
recurring1658
revisitant1729
retour1731
back1868
1868 B. J. Lossing Hudson (new ed.) 145 They generally descend the river at the close of May, when they are called Back Shad.
7. Turned back, reversed, as in back current, back smoke; spelt backward, as in back slang.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > [adjective] > turning back or reversing course > turned back or reversed
reflecteda1425
back1857
1857 J. Wilson Christopher North I. 137 That mysterious and infernal sort, called back-smoke.
Draft additions September 2013
back-rower n. Rugby a player in the back row of the scrum (see sense 1f).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > types of player > player or position
full back1875
goal kick1875
No. eight1876
goalkicker1879
three-quarter back1880
handler1888
three-quarter1889
heeler1892
scrum half1894
lock forward1898
standoff1902
five-eighth1905
hooker1905
threes1905
flying half1906
loose head1907
standoff1908
fly-half1918
fly1921
inside half1921
outside half1921
scrum1921
inside centre1936
flank forward1937
out-half1949
prop1950
prop forward1951
number eight1952
flanker1953
tight head1959
back-rower1969
second rower1969
striker1973
packman1992
1969 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 13 July 45/4 Back-rowers Barry McDonald, Greg Davis and Hugh Rose have been particularly noticeable in swiftly supporting the man with the ball.
1993 Rugby World & Post May 6/1 The game of rugby suffered a great loss when it gave licence to marauding backrowers to stifle back play by the institution of laws supposed to create ‘running rugby’.
2004 Rugby World Feb. 65/3 At Llanelli he learned his trade alongside international back-rowers.
Draft additions March 2003
back-mutate v. [Compare earlier back mutation n. at Additions.] Genetics (intransitive) to undergo back mutation; (also transitive) to cause to undergo back mutation.
ΚΠ
1946 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 32 172 It is conceivable that nutritional mutants in bacteria are formed by an inactivation of a gene. From this state it may later back-mutate.
1961 Jrnl. Molecular Biol. 3 121 Each mutant is then tested with various mutagens to see which of them will back-mutate it to wild type.
1986 M. Kogut tr. H. G. Schlegel Gen. Microbiol. xv. 447 It has also become obvious that mutants can back mutate and re-acquire the wild type character.
2002 Independent (Nexis) 24 June 14 Not only had the vaccine virus back-mutated, it had borrowed useful genes from other harmless viruses living in the gut of its victims, possibly adding to its strength.
Draft additions March 2003
back mutation n. Genetics = reverse mutation n. at reverse adj. and adv. Compounds 2.
ΚΠ
1927 Proc. Cambr. Philos. Soc. 23 842 It [sc. mutation] is also more effective than selection in weeding out rare recessives, provided that it is not balanced by back mutation of dominants.
1946 Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biol. 11 216 It is not experimentally possible to distinguish a back-mutation from a suppressor mutation in one of a series of adjacent leucineless genes.
1986 R. F. Doolittle Urfs & Orfs i. 10 Any position can be subject to reverse changes (‘back-mutations’) and multiple hits.
2001 Human Genetics 108 167 The normal alleles must have arisen by back mutation in a precursor cell.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
backv.
/bak/, U.S. /bæk/ I. To line the back of, make a back to.† 1. To cover the back, clothe. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)]
wrya901
clothec950
shride971
aturnc1220
begoa1225
array1297
graith1297
agraithc1300
geara1325
cleadc1325
adightc1330
apparel1362
back1362
shape1362
attirea1375
parela1375
tirea1375
rayc1390
addressa1393
coverc1394
aguisea1400
scredea1400
shrouda1400
bedightc1400
buskc1400
harnessc1400
hatterc1400
revesta1449
able1449
dressa1450
reparel?c1450
adub?1473
endue?a1475
afaite1484
revestera1500
beclothe1509
trimc1516
riga1535
invest1540
vesture1555
suit1577
clad1579
investure1582
vest1582
deck1587
habit1594
to make ready1596
caparison1597
skin1601
shadow1608
garment1614
riga1625
raiment1656
garb1673
equip1695
to fit out1722
encase1725
tog1793
trick1821
to fig out1825
enclothe1832
toilet1842
to get up1858
habilitate1885
tailor1885
kit1919
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. xi. 185 To breke beggeris bred & bakken hem [v.r. bak hym, bachem] with cloþis.
2.
a. To put a back to, to line the back, or form the back part of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > form the back or background of [verb (transitive)] > furnish with back part
back1728
tail1817
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Bookbinding The French Binders..are enjoin'd by Ordonnance to back their Books with Parchment.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §220 The ashler walls were backed..with rubble stone, or with bricks.
1880 L. Higgin Handbk. Embroidery iv. 35 Silk, satin, or velvet..must be backed with a fine cotton or linen lining.
1884 Law Times Rep. 51 230/2 That A.B. do back and cope a hundred rods of their wall.
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. This book requires to be backed.
b. Photography. To coat the back of (a plate) with some substance which will absorb light and so prevent halation.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > treatment of plates, films, or paper > [verb (transitive)]
mercurialize1843
actinize1844
albumenize1850
sensitize1851
wax1853
develop1859
sensibilize1860
organify1873
back1878
salt1878
excite1879
talc1888
alum1889
bleach1889
fume1890
orthochromatize1890
flash1903
pre-expose1925
hypersensitize1954
panchromatize1960
1878 W. de W. Abney Emulsion Process in Photogr. iv. 49 This defect is..cured by applying some non-actinic varnish to the back of the plate. This backing may be made as follows: [etc.].
1882 W. K. Burton A.B.C. Mod. Photogr. 59 It is well to ‘back’ the plate; that is, to paint or otherwise cover it at the back with some substance which will absorb light.
1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 50 Back your plates with caramel, as there is no doubt it forms the most effectual backing.
c. Bookbinding. To force the backs of the sections of (an unbound book) outwards on each side so as to form grooves or ledges into which the edges of the binding boards will fit. The sheets are clamped in a press, after rounding, between two bevelled boards, and the backs struck with a hammer. Also attributive in backing-board, backing-hammer, backing-machine.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > book > manufacture or production of books > book-binding > bookbinding equipment > [noun] > other equipment
backing-board1741
runner1818
sewing-frame1818
trindle1818
laying-press1835
gathering-table1841
gathering-board1874
pressing board1875
lying-press1876
society > communication > book > manufacture or production of books > book-binding > bookbinding equipment > [noun] > tools
plough1580
fillet1641
roll1656
paper-folder1781
stamp1811
backing-hammer1818
bookstamp1819
lettering tool1833
book cutter1850
roller1852
hand letter1862
pallet1875
wagon1875
stop1880
jigger1883
gouge1885
guinea-edge1890
marbler1890
panel stamp1893
saddle stitcher1944
society > communication > book > [verb (transitive)] > force back outwards
back1846
society > communication > book > manufacture or production of books > book-binding > bookbinding equipment > [noun] > machines
arming press1832
smasher1876
smashing-machinea1877
backing-machine1879
sewing machine1880
wire-stitcher1882
bumper1951
smashing-press-
1741 Chambers's Cycl. (ed. 4) at Book-binding Then the back is turned with a hammer, the book being fixed in a press between boards, called backing-boards; in order to make a groove for fixing the paste-boards.
1818 H. Parry Art of Bookbinding 12 Place the backing-boards a little below the back on each side.
1818 H. Parry Art of Bookbinding 13 The centre must only be well rubbed over with the face of the backing-hammer to make it smooth.
1846 G. Dodd Brit. Manuf. 6th Ser. iv. 89 When the book is ‘backed’. It is placed between two pieces of plank called ‘backing-boards’.
1879 J. W. Zaehnsdorf Art of Bookbinding 44 The boards required for backing, called backing boards, should always be the same length as the book.
1879 J. W. Zaehnsdorf Art of Bookbinding 167 Backing Machine.—A small machine introduced for backing cheap work.
3. To form the rear of, lie at the back of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > form the back or background of [verb (transitive)]
background1768
back1826
1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey II. iv. vii. 235 Its ruined castle backing the city.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. xxxi. 270 This beach is backed by rolling dunelike hills.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 167 The chalk cliffs which back the beach.
II. To support at the back. (Cf. back n.1 12.)† 6. reflexive. To support or stay oneself. Obsolete.
4. To support or help mechanically, materially,
a. of persons: originally with physical force, hence with authority, money; to uphold, aid, second.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [verb (transitive)]
lasteOE
i-hentc1225
uphold?c1225
upbeara1300
sustainc1300
understand13..
uplift1338
maintainc1350
supporta1393
underset1395
buttressc1400
supprise1447
bolster1508
stay1526
stay1526
undershore?a1534
underpropa1535
to hold up by the chin1546
back1548
suborn1548
suffult?c1550
upshore?1567
shoulder1577
upstay1600
underwrite1609
abone1622
crutch1641
float1823
backstop1956
1548 W. Patten Exped. Scotl. sig. E.iv A troup of dimilaunces to back them.
a1592 R. Greene Hist. Orlando Furioso (1594) sig. E He backt the Prince of Cuba for my foe.
a1626 W. Rowley Birth of Merlin (1662) sig. F4 The Saxons which thou broughtst to back thy usurpations.
1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. ii. 70 One, that..had taken upon him to back the Lions. View more context for this quotation
1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) II. x. 503 Demands which had been backed by an armed force.
1880 R. Jefferies Hodge & Masters I. 79 The old uncle who had ‘backed’ him at the bank.
b. of things. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [verb (transitive)] > materially, of things
back1598
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres v. 122 They [kingdoms] are strong by nature, when..backed with lakes, mountaines, etc.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine sig. E2 To Back an anchor,..to carry out a small anchor..ahead of the large one..in order to support it, and prevent it from loosening.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. 65 To back a rope or chain; to put on a preventer, when it is thought likely to break from age or extra strain.
1876 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People (1882) ii. §6. 91 The moral revolution..was backed by a religious revival.
c. Music. To accompany (a singer). Cf. backing n. 7b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform (music) [verb (transitive)] > accompany
accompany1583
symphonize1801
feed1949
comp1955
back1961
1961 Jazz Jrnl. July 4 I've heard a record or two of Lang backing a singer.
5. To support morally (by arguments, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > attest, bear witness [verb (transitive)] > support, corroborate
fasteneOE
i-sothea925
sustainc1325
witness1362
approvec1380
confirmc1384
affirma1393
justifya1393
to bear outa1475
corrobore1485
uphold1485
nourisha1522
underpinc1522
to countenance outa1529
favoura1530
soothe1544
strengthen1548
comfort1593
second1596
accredit1598
evidencea1601
warrantise1600
compact1608
back1612
thickena1616
accreditate1654
shoulder1674
support1691
corroborate1706
carry1835
to give (also lend) colour1921
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus (i. 9) 205 Which Godly course Augustine backeth.
1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 354 He back'd his Discourses with proper Quotations of Scripture.
1852 H. Rogers Eclipse of Faith 76 Authoritative teaching..backed by the performance of miracles?
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > support oneself [verb (reflexive)]
authorizea1586
back1642
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 189 Others..backe themselves with this, That your best Preachers are no better then they should be.
7. To support one's opinions, judgements, etc., as to an undecided issue, by a wager or bet. to back a horse: to bet or stake money upon its winning a race; to back the field: to bet upon the aggregate of the horses in a race, against one in particular. Also transferred and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > bet on [verb (transitive)]
back1697
to put one's money on1847
to put one's shirt on1856
play1858
lump1864
lay1877
stand1877
to get on ——1884
to bet (also stake) one's shirt (that)1892
to go a (or the) bundle on1938
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 12 Now back your singing with an equal Stake.
1699 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) IV. 505 The lord Wharton's horse Carelesse has beaten another backt by the duke of Devon, etc. for £1900.
1818 Ld. Byron Beppo xxvii. 14 Most men (till by losing rendered sager) Will back their own opinions by a wager.
1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful II. vi. 134 Some one backed me against another man in the ring for fifty pound a-side.
1872 C. J. Lever Ld. Kilgobbin lxx Bet on the field—never back the favourite.
1878 Chambers's Encycl. V. 428 There are men..ready to lay against any horse and ‘back’ the ‘field’.
1888 Daily News 29 June Pillarist was backed against the field.
1913 Punch 26 Mar. 250/2 The sanguine mood induced by backing two winners.
1922 C. L. Graves Mr. Punch's Hist. III. 15 Lord Salisbury made his remarkable speech about our having ‘backed the wrong horse, i.e. Turkey, in the Crimean War’.
1940 D. Wheatley Scarlet Imposter ii. 20 They [sc. German industrialists] backed the wrong horse, for Hitler has been their taskmaster ever since.
1955 Times 9 June 6/3 Dr. Clark said he never backed greyhounds but confined his modest betting to horses.
8. to back up: to stand behind with intent to support or second, to uphold or support materially or morally; esp. in Cricket (of a fielder): To run behind another fielder in readiness to stop the ball if he or she should fail to do it; (of the batter at the bowler's end): To start in readiness for a run; and similarly in other games. Cf. backing n. 6c. Also without up (Obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > fielding > field [verb (transitive)] > back up or cover
to back up1772
cover1833
1772 Noble Game of Cricket (song) in Kentish Gaz. 18-22 Aug. Ye Fields-men look sharp... When the ball is return'd, back it sure.
1840 A. Bunn Stage II. 239 Taglioni was engaged on unheard-of terms to ‘back up’ Malibran's ‘off-nights’.
1854 J. Pycroft in F. Lillywhite Guide to Cricketers (ed. 7) 14 Point should back behind short slip.
1865 M. Arnold Ess. Crit. i. 27 Let us all stick to each other, and back each other up.
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xxi. 359 He prolonged Cæsar's command, and backed him up in everything.
1883 Abp. Benson in Standard 28 June 2/3 Varied appeals to strengthen and ‘back up’ their own long-continued efforts.
1898 G. Giffen With Bat & Ball App. 238 Always back up another fieldsman if you possibly can.
9. Shooting. Of dogs: To follow the lead of a dog that ‘points’, by falling into the same perfectly stiff or semi-cataleptic state.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > work done by hounds > action of hounds [verb (transitive)] > point > follow pointing dog
back1860
1860 Encycl. Brit. XX. 220/1 A dog which backs another is not aware of the proximity of game at the time otherwise than by inference.
1875 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports (ed. 12) i. i. iii. §6. 69 Some very high-couraged dogs are very difficult to make ‘back’; I have known many highly-bred ones in which the cataleptic condition was never fully developed.
III. To mount on the back of.† 11. To cover (used of animals in copulation).
10.
a. To mount, ride on (a horse); also, to break him in to the saddle. Also, figurative of the billows, etc. (Cf. To breast the waves.) Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > mount (a horse or other animal)
to win upona1400
worthc1400
takea1438
mountc1540
to get upon ——1561
to get on ——1572
back1594
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [verb (transitive)] > break a horse
break1474
dressc1540
back1594
gentle1651
rough1802
bust1885
1594 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis (new ed.) sig. Dv The colt that's backt and burthend being yong.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. iv. 71 That roane shall be my throne. Wel, I will backe him straight. View more context for this quotation
c1620 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Tragedy Barnavelt v. iii Back the raging waves to bring you proffit.
1623 H. Cockeram Eng. Dict. iii. at Bucephalus He would suffer none to backe him, but his Master.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth II. 359 The French horses..must not be backed till they are eight years old.
1783 Ainsworth's Thes. Linguæ Latinæ (new ed.) To back, or break a horse, Equum domare.
1801 R. Southey Thalaba I. iv. 242 Could they have backed the Dromedary then.
1881 A. C. Swinburne Mary Stuart i. iii. 54 If I should never more back steed alive.
1925 E. Selous in C. Waterton Wanderings p. ix The future caymanestrian..backed and was shortly unbacked by a cow.
b. intransitive. (See quot. 1942.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > sheep-farming > rear sheep [verb (intransitive)] > herd sheep > action of sheepdog
cast1911
lift1921
back1934
1934 J. Lilico Sheep Dog Mem. 26 Any keen dog..can be trained to back when there are other dogs doing so.
1942 R. B. Kelley Animal Breeding xv. 142 In sheep yards the dog that will ‘back’ probably is the most specialized... Their function is to go forward.. over the tightly packed sheep's backs and, by barking vigorously, cause the leading sheep to keep moving.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > sexual organs and reproduction > [verb (transitive)] > copulate with
entera1425
alignc1425
line1495
cover1535
serve1577
befilth1593
topa1616
back1658
strenea1728
mate1932
service1947
1658 J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) 927 When as the female or she Asse would be backt.
IV. To write or print at the back of.
12.
a. To countersign a warrant.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > that which identifies or distinguishes > personal identification > signature > sign (a document) [verb (transitive)] > countersign
countersign1696
back1768
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. 238 The warrant of a justice of the peace in one county..must be backed, that is, signed by a justice of the peace in another..before it can be executed there.
b. To endorse a bill, or cheque. Also U.S. and Scottish, to address (a letter).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > sending items > send items [verb (transitive)] > address letter
redressa1393
superscribe1472
direct1598
dedicate1688
back1825
address1880
society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > paper money > cheques and drafts > process a cheque [verb (transitive)] > endorse a bill, cheque, or draught
back1825
endorse1866
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. To back (a letter), to write the direction; more generally applied merely to the manual performance. ‘An ill-backit letter’; one with the direction ill written.
1829 R. C. Sands in Writings (1834) II. 136 You may as well back the paper and send what loose cash you have, besides.
1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) (at cited word) To back a letter, is Western for to ‘direct’ it.
1889 J. S. Farmer Americanisms (at cited word) The frequently-heard commercial phrase of to back, in the sense of ‘to endorse’, literally, to write on the back of a letter, bill, or cheque.
1889 J. M. Barrie Window in Thrums ix. 87 He had written a letter to David Alexander, and wanted me to ‘back’ it.
1903 S. Clapin New Dict. Amer. 30 To back, often heard, in parts of the West and the South, in sense of to address a letter.
c. To print on the back (as well as the front).
V. transitive. To cause to move back, put back.† 13. To draw back, withdraw. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > cause to move back [verb (transitive)] > move or draw something backwards
shrinkc1275
withdrawa1325
retreata1460
retract?a1475
revokea1500
retray1562
revolt1571
back1578
return1594
inshella1616
recede1823
1578 T. Tymme tr. J. Calvin Comm. Genesis 52 If he do but a little backe his hande, all things shall by and by perish, etc.
14.
a. To set, lay, or incline back.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > inclination > incline [verb (transitive)] > cause to lean over > backwards
recline1792
back1833
1833 H. Ellis Elgin Marbles I. ii. 27 Was scooped in and backed against the rock.
b. to back a sail, to back a yard: to lay it aback; ‘to brace the yard so that the wind may blow directly on the front of the sail, and thus retard the ship's course’. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > trim sails > lay aback
to put aback1698
to back a yard1707
bagpipe1769
to lay aback1769
back-wind1899
1707 London Gaz. No. 4380/3 The Firebrand.. immediately backing her Foresail, drove off.
1812 Capt. Carden in Examiner 4 Jan. (1813) 6/1 The enemy backed and came to the wind.
1828 T. Moore Meeting of Ships iii Then sails are backed, we nearer come.
1847 J. C. Ross Voy. Antarctic Reg. II. 168 By backing and filling the sails we endeavoured to avoid collision with the larger masses [of ice].
15.
a. To push back, cause to move back or in the opposite direction.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > cause to move back [verb (transitive)]
shrinkc1374
back1781
1781 H. Hamilton in 9th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1910) II. App. iii. 227 The shallowness of the water obliged us to make a dam across both rivers to back the water into the swamp.
1812 Examiner 23 Aug. 533/1 One..seized the horse by the nose, backed him.
1814 R. Southey Roderick xxv And with sidelong step Backing Orelio, drew him to the ground.
1846 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) viii. 67 Backing his chair a little.
b. esp. To propel in the opposite direction, by reversing the action; as, to back a locomotive engine, a boat; also, to back (the) oars, and, in same sense, to back water.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > drive a vehicle [verb (transitive)] > backwards
back1769
to back up1834
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > direct or manage ship [verb (intransitive)] > head in a certain course or direction > go astern
to fall astern1599
to back water1808
to make a stern-board1815
stern1845
society > travel > travel by water > propelling boat by oars, paddle, or pole > [verb (intransitive)] > row > pull oars backwards
to back water1808
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine sig. E2 To Back astern,..is to manage the oars in a direction contrary to the usual method, so as that the boat..shall retreat.
1808 T. Ashe Trav. Amer. 1806 xxxvii. 303 I again took the helm, and ordered the men to back water with all their might.
1823 J. F. Cooper Pioneers II. viii. 116 ‘Back water,’ cried Natty, as the canoe glided over the place where the spear had fallen.
1830 F. Marryat King's Own III. vi. 126 Before the boats could be backed astern.
1837 F. Marryat Snarleyyow (ed. 2) I. xv. 206 The smugglers backed water to stop their way.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. 65 A sailing vessel is backed by means of the sails, a steamer by reversing the paddles or screw-propeller. Back her! The order directing the engineer to reverse the movement of the cranks, and urge the vessel astern.
1884 Manch. Examiner 18 Sept. 5/2 Then the train was backed.
VI. intransitive (for reflexive) To move, go, come back.
16.
a. To move back, recede, retreat backward.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)]
reversec1450
recoil1483
back1486
regressa1525
retire1542
flinch1578
retrograde1613
recur1616
retrocede1638
ravel1656
backen1748
regrede1800
regrade1811
retrogress1812
1486 Bk. St. Albans, Hawking B vj The terettys serue to kepe hir from wyndyng whan she backes.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xvi. 123 Backing into wider quarters.
1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in All Year Round 10 Mar. 465/2 Backing into the fireplace.
1873 G. C. Davies Mountain, Meadow & Mere xiv. 109 The big fish slowly backed out of sight.
b. to back and fill (see fill v. 4c, 4d), to go backward and forward. Also transferred and figurative. U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > move in a certain direction [verb (intransitive)] > move back and forth or come and go
to come and goc1384
to pass and repassc1460
to back and fill1848
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > be irresolute or vacillate [verb (intransitive)]
haltc825
flecchec1300
waverc1315
flickerc1325
wag1387
swervea1400
floghter1521
stacker1526
to be of (occasionally in) many (also divers) minds1530
wave1532
stagger1533
to hang in the wind1536
to waver as, like, with the wind1548
mammer1554
sway1563
dodge1568
erch1584
suspend1585
float1598
swag1608
hoverc1620
hesitate1623
vacillate1623
fluctuate1634
demur1641
balance1656
to be at shall I, shall I (not)1674
to stand shall I, shall I1674
to go shill-I shall-I1700
to stand at shilly-shally1700
to act, to keep (upon), the volanta1734
whiffle1737
dilly-dally1740
to be in (also of, occasionally on) two minds (also in twenty minds, in (also of) several minds, etc.)1751
oscillate1771
shilly-shally1782
dacker1817
librate1822
humdrum1825
swing1833
(to stand or sit) on or upon the fence1848
to back and fill1854
haver1866
wobble1867
shaffle1873
dicker1879
to be on the weigh-scales1886
waffle1894
to think twice1898
to teeter on the brink1902
dither1908
vagulate1918
pern1920
1777 in Essex Inst. Hist. Coll. (1906) XLII. 315 He was then order'd..to Stillwarter, then ordered from Stillwarter to Benington... This in the Salers Frase is Backing & filling, makes but poor way a head.
1848 F. A. Durivage Stray Subj. 174 The steam was well up on both boats, which lay rolling, and backing and filling, from the action of the paddles, at the dock.
1854 Congress. Globe 11 Dec. 57 Men will be sent to Congress who will not ‘back and fill’, and be on one principle for one week..and upon another principle another week.
1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xxiii. 229 How in the world he [sc. the gondolier] can back and fill, shoot straight ahead,..is a problem to me.
1890 Harper's Mag. Sept. 598/2 Nimble stewards back and fill from galley to pantry.
1903 N.Y. Evening Post 24 Oct. The engine was backing and filling on a sidetrack.
17. To move in the reverse direction. Said of the wind when it changes in a direction opposite to the course of the sun. Opposed to veer. Also said of a railway train, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)] > blow from a particular quarter > change direction > in specific direction
wester1580
veer1582
souther1635
northera1665
backen1800
south1823
southern1859
back1860
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > move in reverse direction
back1894
reverse1896
1860 Adm. Fitz-Roy in Mercantile Marine Mag. 7 40 The wind appeared to ‘back,’ or ‘retrograde.’
1870 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows 5 Did the wind back round or go about with the sun?
1894 Idler July 609 Sometimes he would pull out when he could hear the express coming, and make her back down to the next station.
1901 G. N. Boothby Myst. Clasped Hands iv. 75 At last the train backed into the station.
18. to back out: to move backward out of a place without turning; figurative to draw back cautiously or tacitly from an arrangement or situation, to retreat out of a difficulty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > out of a place
to back out1807
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose [verb (intransitive)] > withdraw from an engagement or promise
starta1450
fang1522
recidivate1528
to draw back1572
flinch1578
to shrink collar1579
retract1616
to shrink out of the collar1636
renege1651
to fly off1667
to slip (the) collarc1677
to declare off1749
to cry off1775
to back out1807
to fight off1833
crawfish1848
welsh1871
to pull out1884
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] > avoid > turn aside from a course of action > back out
resile1529
to back out1807
duff1883
duck1896
punk1920
squib1938
bug1952
weasel1956
to wuss out1976
1807 Deb. Congr. U.S. (1852) 651 Our committee recommended us to recede—to back out.
1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. viii. 178 Determined that Morris should not back out of the scrape so easily.
1830 F. Marryat King's Own II. i. 5 ‘Sure your honour's in luck’..replied Barney, grinning, and backing out of the room.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters ix. 226 Octavius backs out; his caution and reserve come to his rescue.
19. to back down: to descend as one does a ladder; to recede downward from a position taken up. Also figurative. Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose [verb (intransitive)]
wendOE
divert1430
to turn one's tale1525
relent1528
revolt1540
resile?a1597
crinkle1612
to throw in (or up) one's cards1688
to box the compass1714
to turn round1808
crawfish1848
to back down1849
duff1883
back-pedal1891
punk1920
back-track1947
to back off1961
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] > refrain from pursuing something
bitch1777
to back down1849
to back off1961
to pussy out1967
1849 C. Lanman Lett. Alleghany Mts. xi. 90 When we got up about half way..they all three of 'em backed down and said I must not keep on.
1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) 17 To back down, to withdraw a charge, eat one's own words; as ‘I asked Jenkins, before witnesses, if he had called me a cheat; and he backed right down.’
1879 F. R. Stockton Rudder Grange x. 113 We're not going to back down.
1880 St. James's Gaz. 11 Oct. Unless the Government back down from their preparations at this point.
1884 Harper's Mag. June 66/2 Be firm, don't back down.
1934 P. G. Wodehouse Right ho, Jeeves vii. 73 But don't tell me that when he saw how shirty she was about it, the chump didn't back down?
20. to back off (originally U.S.).
a. To draw back, retreat, let up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat
withdraw1297
recoilc1330
give place1382
arrear1399
to draw backa1400
resortc1425
adrawc1450
recedec1450
retraya1470
returna1470
rebut1481
wyke1481
umbedrawc1485
retreata1500
retract1535
retire1542
to give back1548
regress1552
to fall back?1567
peak1576
flinch1578
to fall offa1586
to draw off1602
to give ground1607
retrograde1613
to train off1796
to beat a retreat1861
to back off1938
1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling iv. 37 He [sc. the bear] seemed to stand baffled... The dogs backed off an instant.
1954 Amer. Speech 29 93 After you get through the traps you back off, so as to slow down.
b. figurative. To abandon one's intention, stand, etc.; to relent or back down. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose [verb (intransitive)]
wendOE
divert1430
to turn one's tale1525
relent1528
revolt1540
resile?a1597
crinkle1612
to throw in (or up) one's cards1688
to box the compass1714
to turn round1808
crawfish1848
to back down1849
duff1883
back-pedal1891
punk1920
back-track1947
to back off1961
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] > refrain from pursuing something
bitch1777
to back down1849
to back off1961
to pussy out1967
1961 Webster's 3rd New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. (fig.).
1963 K. Neville in D. Knight 100 Years Sci. Fiction (1969) 73 ‘It's going to cost me near a hundred a month—that's a steep bite.’ ‘I still think they'll back off.’
1979 Arizona Daily Star 22 July a10/4 A man who took authorities to the shallow graves of two women he admitted killing backed off..from an earlier story that there were six more victims.
21. Of a building, etc.: to be so situated that the back abuts on a particular piece of land or property.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > nearness > be near to [verb (transitive)] > be in contact with > border on > at the back
back1891
1891 G. M. Fenn Mahme Nousie II. xv. 257 This opening backed on to the forest, and the escaping party passed in at once among the trees.
1921 Edinb. Rev. Jan. 190 In St. James' Square, on which the club backs, the attack was more serious.
22. to back up.
a. Of running water: to meet a barrier and become deeper. Of a barrier, etc.: to cause running water to accumulate and become deeper. Chiefly U.S. See also back-up n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > body of water > [verb (intransitive)] > accumulate behind barrier
quirt1602
to back up1837
the world > the earth > water > body of water > [verb (transitive)] > cause to accumulate
to back up1837
1837 Knickerbocker 10 409 They..descended this river to the mouth of White river; and as this was backed up by the spring freshets, the voyagers turned their course up the stream.
1842 P. Pusey in Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 3 xiii. 176 The field is subject to floods, which had backed up in the drains.
1844 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 5 v. 78 An obstruction to their drainage occasioned by corn mills backing up the water to a considerable extent.
1884 Ingersoll in Harper's Mag. 876/2 Rivers would be able to dispose of their water in the full season without its backing up.
1962 R. L. Carson Silent Spring (1963) vi. 55 Through the labour of the beavers, a lake backed up.
b. To move backwards; also transitive, to drive (a vehicle) backwards. Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > drive a vehicle [verb (transitive)] > backwards
back1769
to back up1834
1834 Visit to Texas viii. 116 A small log building..in the rear of which a cart was backed up on the Prairie.
1872 ‘M. Twain’ Sketches New & Old 269 He then backed up against Pompey's statue, and squared himself to receive his assailants.
1883 Harper's Mag. Aug. 400 The wagons were backed up against the walls.
1948 A. Cooke in Manch. Guardian Weekly 21 Oct. 14/2 He gave the proper signals and slowly backed up.
c. Rock Climbing. (See quot. 1923.)
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > mountaineering or climbing > mountaineer or climb [verb (intransitive)] > climbing techniques
glissade1837
sidle1867
traverse1897
abseil1908
to back up1909
bridge1909
to rope down1935
jam1950
rappel1950
prusik1959
solo1964
free-climb1968
hand jam1968
jumar1969
layback1972
pendule1973
top-rope1974
crimp1989
free solo1992
1909 C. E. Benson Brit. Mountaineering v. 139 Backing up on smooth walls is extremely tiring.
1923 G. D. Abraham First Steps to Climbing v. 58 It may be easy to ‘back up’, with feet and knees on one side and back on the other.
d. transitive. Computing. To provide back-up for; to make a duplicate copy of (a file, program, etc.), esp. to safeguard against loss or corruption of the original.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > data > database > use data [verb (transitive)] > store
store1909
write1946
save1961
to back up1967
to read in1970
archive1979
1967 Proc. AFIPS Conf. 30 776/1 A parallel DDC computer system..not only provides computer backup but ‘backs up’ the time-shared analog and digital input/output equipment.
1974 Computing Rev. June 204/2 The objective of this paper is to determine the optimum frequency for backing up a data base.
1983 Austral. Microcomputer Mag. Sept. 70/3 The tape drive can also be used to backup the IBM XT's hard disk.
23. transitive. To carry on the back. U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > convey or transport > carry > carry on back or shoulders
horsec1560
hog1781
back1840
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xx. 202 We started off every morning..and cut wood..and after dinner..carted and ‘backed’ it down, until sunset.
1895 Outing 27 47/2 These hardy woodsmen backing packs of from eighty to one hundred pounds each.
Derivatives
backed adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > treatment of plates, films, or paper > [adjective]
mercurialized1648
ferro-prussiate1815
sensitive1839
albumen1850
sensitized1851
bromized1853
waxed1853
salted1855
collodionized1859
collodioned1870
colour-sensitive1879
colour-sensitized1888
unsensitized1889
fumed1890
silvered1890
unfumed1891
orthochromatized1902
backed1906
hypersensitized1914
hypersensitive1937
1906 R. C. Bayley Compl. Photographer 320 If there be one purpose for which backed plates are more than ever necessary, it is in interiors.
backing n. often concrete = the coating applied to the plate.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > chemicals > [noun] > coating or backing
film1840
backing1846
colour film1862
coating1892
1846 G. Dodd Brit. Manuf. 6th Ser. iv. 89 In the process of ‘backing’,..the book is laid on a bench,..and hammered near the back edge, with such a peculiar movement of the left hand as causes the back to become rounded while the hammering proceeds.
1901 D. Cockerell Bookbinding 118 Rounding and backing are best done after the glue has ceased to be tacky.
1906 R. C. Bayley Compl. Photographer 95 A thick coat of backing is quite unnecessary.
Draft additions 1993
e. intransitive. Of motor traffic: to form a stationary or slow-moving queue, as behind an obstruction. Also const. in perfect with to be. Also figurative. colloquial (chiefly U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > vehicular traffic > [verb (intransitive)] > become jammed (of traffic)
snarl1951
back1964
1964 N.Y. Times 24 June 24/8 Each time it [sc. a drawbridge] opens, traffic backs up on heavily traveled Bruckner Boulevard.
1977 Washington Post 9 Nov. b8/2 Another car, also with its hood up and facing the stalled car, was trying to give it a jump start... The transfusion wasn't working and traffic was backing up as far as the eye could see.
1979 Washington Post 1 Sept. c3/5 Traffic on the Capital Beltway was backed up for miles just before the rush to get away for the Labor Day weekend when a tractor-trailer truck collided head-on with another truck.
1983 J. M. Coetzee Life & Times Michael K i. 48 Backed up around the bend as far as K could see was the rest of the convoy.
1984 New Yorker 9 Apr. 72/2 Decisions backed up: the scheduler couldn't complete the campaign schedule until he had cleared it with the candidate; press releases waited for the candidate's approval.
1986 Times 25 Aug. 8/7 On the far side, traffic heading south is backed up for miles.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
backadv.
/bak/, U.S. /bæk/ I. In a direction to the rear.
1. literal. In the direction of one's back, or the back of any object in question; toward the rear; away from a forward position. Often with the verb (go, come, etc.) omitted, esp. in the imperative. back with: move back with, take or draw back.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in backward direction > in direction of one's or its back
backward1330
backa1400
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 7525 Ga, Neyder forth ne ȝeit on back.
1460 Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 55 With that a-noon I went me bakkermore.
1548 H. Latimer Notable Serm. sig. A.iiv No man that..loketh backe.
1555 J. Heywood Two Hundred Epigrammes with Thyrde sig. C.vii The bore shall backe fyrst.
1590 R. Harvey Plaine Percevall sig. C Backe with that leg Perceuall.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake ii. 89 Back, beardless boy!..Back, minion!
1851 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm 691 Language to horses..To step backward—Back is the only word I can remember to have heard for this motion.
1860 M. F. Maury Physical Geogr. Sea (ed. 8) viii. §378 This current which baffled and beat back this fleet.
2. Away from what is treated as the front; from the actual or ordinary position.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in backward direction
hindwarda1300
behindc1340
backwardc1386
arrear1393
awkwardc1440
behindwardc1440
back-half1470
backc1500
backwardly1552
rearward1604
tailwards1617
aversely1646
hindlongs1668
rearwards1835
rearwardly1856
arseling1887
c1500 Blowbols Test. 404 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 109 To draw the bake fer out of their sight.
1611 Bible (King James) Matt. xxviii. 2 The angel of the Lord rolled back the stone.
1786 R. E. Raspe Gulliver Revived (ed. 3) 110 The crowds who were about me retreated back.
1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. ii. 132 A blast..Drives me back from the grave.
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. Try to force this bolt back.
3. Away from an engagement, promise, or undertaking.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [adverb]
back1783
revulsively1826
1783 Ainsworth's Thes. Linguæ Latinæ (new ed.) at Back To go back from his word, Fidem violare.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 701 Harley and Foley..promised, with an air of confidence..but soon went back from their word.
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. I accepted his offer at once, lest he should draw back.
4. Into time past, backward in time.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > [adverb] > backwards in time or into the past
upwardc1055
backward1562
retro1634
upwards1689
back1711
recessively1880
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 153. ⁋2 Able to look back on Youth with Satisfaction.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 484. ⁋2 If we go back to the days of Solomon.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VII. lxxxvii.* 321 I might have gone farther back than that fatal seventh.
1854 A. Jameson Bk. of Th. (1877) 123 In memory I can go back to a very early age.
II. In the reverse direction.
5. literal. In the opposite direction in space, so as to return to the place originally left. Often with the verb (go, etc.) omitted: cf. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > return > [adverb]
againOE
abackwardsa1477
backa1535
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > [adverb] > in direction originally come from
backwardc1374
abackwardsa1477
backa1535
a1535 T. More Wks. (R.) 6 (R.) To pull him back into the voluptuous brode way.
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Cade x. 6 Remoued our campe, and backe to Senocke went.
a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1604) sig. B3v If thou deny it, I wil backe to hel.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. vii. 14 I will suruay th'inscriptions, back againe. View more context for this quotation
1624 T. Taylor 2 Serm. i. 21 Backe they will to Egypt in all haste.
1783 E. Burke in 9th Rep. Select Comm. Admin. Justice Bengal, Bahar & Orissa ii. 15 Send it back to Bengal, for the Purchase of Indian Merchandize.
1854 C. M. Yonge Cameos xxx, in Monthly Packet Sept. 170 Back came John in rage and fury.
6. In reversal of progress, so as to return to a former condition.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > relapse > [adverb]
back1535
backward1582
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Jer. xliv. 2 They wente backe to do sacrifice and worshipe vnto straunge goddes.
1752 S. Johnson Rambler No. 204. ⁋6 And then fall back to the common state of man.
1817 Ld. Byron Manfred ii. ii. 78 I felt myself degraded back to them, And was all clay again.
1870 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 2) I. App. 727 The whole..country fell back into heathenism.
7.
a. In reversal of action or change of any kind, so as to restore former circumstances or relations; formerly expressed by again adv., which is still sometimes used, and often added.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > change of direction, reversion > [adverb]
againOE
of newa1425
againstc1460
backa1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. i. 143 All From me do backe receiue the Flowre of all. View more context for this quotation
1692 E. Walker tr. Epictetus Enchiridion (1737) xv How is that lost that is but given back?
1752 S. Johnson Rambler No. 193. ⁋11 Three times I sent it to the printer, and three times I fetched it back.
1865 S. Baring-Gould Bk. Were-wolves v. 55 And transformed himself back again into his human shape.
1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xvii. 203 Has any one among us died..and come back to life?
b. elliptical (= come, received, put, etc., back.) To be back = French être de retour.
ΚΠ
1879 W. G. Ward Ess. Philos. Theism (1884) I. 386 My desire to be back comfortably in the warm house.
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. How long have you been back? I must have them back some day.
8. In return, requital, repayment, retaliation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > [adverb]
againOE
againwarda1382
back1600
the mind > possession > giving > giving back or restitution > [adverb]
gainc1275
againa1425
back1600
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing iv. i. 27 What haue I to giue you backe ? View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) iv. iii. 18 Take, and giue backe affayres, and their dispatch. View more context for this quotation
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus ii. i. 30/1 With heavy penalty, will it one day be required back.
1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies viii. 326 She knew they would pay her back.
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. Strongly tempted to answer back.
III. Of position.
9. In a position to the rear, or away from the front; at a point or distance behind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > [adverb]
baftc885
afterwardOE
afterOE
at-hind1016
abackOE
behindc1220
backc1300
arrear1393
hinda1400
baftsc1400
dererec1410
abaft1495
ahind1768
retrally1825
a-rear1849
c1300 in Old Eng. Misc. 228 He bad him stonde bac.
1473 J. Warkworth Chron. 22 And aftyre..it aroose north-est, and so bakkere and bakkere.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. ii. 38 My Lord, stand backe and let the coffin passe. View more context for this quotation
1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xvi. 144 Mrs. Pendennis's visit..which we have recorded many pages back.
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. The field lies back from the road. I left him back at the second milestone.
10. In a state of check to forward motion in space, to progress in condition, to production, exhibition, or declaration.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [adverb] > in retarding manner
back1535
retardingly1847
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Kings iv. 24 Dryue forth, and keep me not bak.
1576 F. Thynne Let. 19 Mar. in Animaduersions (1875) p. lvi There is a heuye stoone tyed at my foote, whiche keepeth mee backe.
1611 Bible (King James) Num. xxiv. 11 The Lord hath kept thee back from honour. View more context for this quotation
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 255 A nation..long kept back by a sterile soil and a severe climate.
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. To keep back dispatches, main facts, essential particulars. To shade fruit trees, so as to keep the fruit back.
11. In time past; ago. Usually following a measure of time.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > [adverb] > ago
agoc1350
sitha1375
hencea1382
sithena1400
agone1420
sin1490
sithence1537
since1555
syne1573
ygo1579
aback1768
back1797
pass1971
1797 R. Southey Lett. from Spain x. 171 Dug up a few years back at Buenos Ayres.
1860 N. Hawthorne Marble Faun I. viii. 98 For months back.
1869 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) III. xi. 58 A house which, two generations back, had been ignoble.
1885 N.E.D. at Back Mod. Far back in the Middle Ages.
12. Behind in condition, behind-hand, in arrear.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > insolvency > indebtedness > [adverb] > in arrears
in arrearagesa1325
behindc1375
in rerage (also in rerages)a1400
behindhand1530
in arrears1620
in arrear1621
back1875
1875 Chambers's Jrnl. No. 133. 66 A dinnerless Sunday and a week back in their rent.
13. U.S. slang. Served (and drunk) alongside or together with an alcoholic drink.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > [adverb]
back1976
1976 M. Machlin Pipeline xxxiv. 382 Doheny drank Crown Royal straight with water back.
1978 N.Y. Times Mag. 23 July 23/4 Somebody has to figure out why drinkers who used to order ‘soda on the side’ now say soda back, and why whiskey ‘straight’ has to be ordered straight up rather than neat.
IV. Phrases.
14. †back and fore (archaic or dialect), back and forth, back and forward: backwards and forwards, to and fro. Also as attributive phr.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > to and fro [phrase]
hither and thitherc725
downa1200
to and fro1340
to and again1612
back and forward1613
sourse deorse1616
backward and forwarda1711
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > [phrase] > back and forth
to and fro1340
to and again1612
back and forward1613
backward and forwarda1711
1613 T. Jackson Eternall Truth Script. i. 196 Lengthning the time by..vnnecessarie turnings, backe and forth.
1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. xxiii. 107 He would go back and fore [printed sore] along the foresaid rope.
1678 R. L'Estrange tr. Seneca's Morals: Of Benefits ii. 5 All Material Benefits are tossed back, and forward, and change their Master.
1816 J. Pickering Vocab. U.S. (at cited word) Back and Forth, backwards and forwards. Ex. He was walking back and forth. This is a very common expression in New England; but it is used only in conversation.
1837 W. Dunlap Mem. Water Drinker (ed. 2) I. 57 I am not one of your brook trout to be played back and forth with a hair line as her husband catches um.
1839 Anecd. & Trad. (Camd.) Young girls..dance over the candle back and forth.
1847 J. S. Le Fanu T. O'Brien 199 Barristers..flitted back and forward through the passages.
1857 S. H. Hammond Wild Northern Scenes 138 They would run here and there, back and forth, at full speed along the sands.
1872 Congr. Rec. Dec. 243/1 Various propositions were made [between the U.S. and France] back and forth.
1884 Roe in Harper's Mag. Sept. 540/2 I will go back and forth every day.
1899 Congress. Rec. Feb. 1743/1 Some of you..remember when at Vicksburg our boys got so close to the Confederates that they talked back and forth.
1907 U. Sinclair Industr. Republic p. xii I would find myself comparing..the two eras, and transposing its leading figures back and forth.
1909 E. B. Titchener Text-bk. Psychol. I. x. 47 This back-and-forth movement will continue.
1962 Listener 1 Mar. 377/1 Both dangers can be avoided if there is enough back-and-forth traffic of ideas, information, and influence.
15. back of: back from, behind. (Esp. in U.S.). Cf. in back of at back n.1 23g.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > position at the back > at the back of or behind [preposition]
afterOE
in (also on) the rearward of1591
in (also at, within) (the) rear of1604
on, upon the back (of)1614
back of1694
rearward1778
behind1882
in back ofa1910
1694 in Cal. Virginia State Papers (1875) I. 44 We Ranged on Ackoquane and so back of the Inhabitants and ye So[u]th.
1755 L. Evans Geogr. Ess. 15 If the French settle back of us, the English must either submit to them, or have their throats cut.
1755 L. Evans Geogr. Ess. 16 If we secure the Country back of Carolina in time.
1776 in Essex Inst. Hist. Coll. (1884) XXI. 231 Said Braish shall build a wharff back of the old wharff.
1779 E. Parkman Diary 119 The work of straightning the Road through my land back of the Meeting House.
1823 G. W. Ogden Lett. from West 76 The uplands back of the Oak Hills of the Ohio river.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast ix. 70 The mission stands a little back of the town.
1857 R. Tomes Americans in Japan iii. 83 The country which stretches back of Shanghai.
1875 W. D. Whitney Life & Growth of Lang. viii. 143 Another earlier designation of a more or less kindred conception lay back of it.
1875 E. H. Sears Serm. & Songs 287 The home lies back of the Sunday School.
1899 Westm. Gaz. 3 May 3/2 He has ideas back of his words.
1948 E. Pound Pisan Cantos lxxx. 84 In the shade back of the jo-house.
1953 M. Laski Victorian Chaise Longue 21 No one could live there, back of the railways, down by the canal.
Draft additions June 2004
back in the day (occasionally days): (esp. in African-American use) in the past; some time ago.
ΚΠ
1910 J. A. Lomax Cowboy Songs & Other Frontier Ballads 307 Back in the day when I was young, I knew a man named Hods; He wasn't fit fer nothin' 'cep turnin' up the clods.
1947 Tipton (Indiana) Daily Tribune 25 July 2/1 Back in that day, nearly a century and a half ago, newspapers must have had no shortage of newsprint.]
1986 ‘Beastie Boys’ Girls (transcript of song) in odin.prohosting.com/bboylyr (O.E.D. Archive) Back in the day There was this girl around the way.
1994 Vibe Nov. 78/3 Back in the day there were Josephine Baker, Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughan, and Lena Horne.
1998 R. Price Freedomland i. ii. 48 Jesse had known one of them from back in the day.
2003 E. McLaughlin & N. Kraus Nanny Diaries iii. 73 One drunken night when your buddies from ‘back in the day’ called me a ho.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
> see also
also refers to : back-comb. form
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n.1c885
n.21682
adj.c1450
v.1362adv.c1300see also
- power blast
- power bloc
- power block
- power board
- power brake
- power breaker
- power breakfast
- power broker
- power buzzer
- power cable
- power capstan
- power car
- power cart
- power center
- power centre
- power chord
- power clean
- power company
- power cord
- power couple
- power craft
- power crane
- power curve
- power cut
- power density