Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

rearguard

/ˈɹɪəɹˌɡɑɹd/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.53 in modern English

Syllables: rear-guard
IPA: /ˈɹɪəɹˌɡɑɹd/

11

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The rearmost part of a force, especially a detachment of troops that protect the rear of a retreating force.

noun

The defence, collectively the defenders.

Example Sentences

"Mancini's side only showed enough ambition when it was too late and by then battle lines were drawn as James Collins and former City captain Richard Dunne fought a magnificent rearguard action at the heart of Villa's defence."

Etymology

From Middle English rier garde, from Anglo-Norman reregard, reregarde, rereguarde and Middle French rieregarde, from Old French rereguarde (attested in The Song of Roland, c. 1150), from rere (“after; behind”) + guarde (“guard”). By surface analysis, rear + guard. Piecewise doublet of retrogarde.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: rier garde, reregard,reregarde,rereguarde, rieregarde, rereguarde

Inflected Forms

rearguards (plural) rear guard (alternative) rear-guard (alternative)

Phrases

rearguard action

Frequently Paired Words

backstop

Antonyms

vanguard

Questions

How do you pronounce rearguard?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɹɪəɹˌɡɑɹd/.
What does rearguard mean?: The rearmost part of a force, especially a detachment of troops that protect the rear of a retreating force.
Where does rearguard come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce rearguard

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