aback
/əˈbæk/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.99 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
adv
By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)
Example Sentences
- "The mild, though licentious reign, of Louis the Sixteenth, threw France far aback, in her ambitious career; but it gave birth to that revolution, wherein, her warlike propensities and territorial resources were unfolded with tenfold efficacy."
- "Then stopped, and bounded aback, and away as if in fear, / That I saw her no more; then I wondered though sitting close anear / Was a she-wolf great and grisly."
- "hoyed aback o' the fire"
- "There are so many canes upon Reliance that the labourers could not cut those aback, as they prefer cutting those in front. The cane fields aback were in cultivation last year."
- "I would rather board a hundred of the enemy's frigates, than steer my boat into a fleet of modest women, for a modest woman never fails to take me aback."
- "Q. Was not the Trident at that time aback with one or more Top-sails? A. To the best of my Knowledge she had both Top-sails aback."
Etymology
From Middle English abak, from Old English onbæc, equivalent to a- (“towards”) + back. Compare West Frisian tebek (“aback”, adverb, literally “to/at back”), Swedish tillbaka (idem.).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /əˈbæk/
- British English: /əˈbæk/