English Explanatory Dictionary

aback

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. Towards the back or rear; backwards.
  2. In the rear; a distance behind.
  3. By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)
  4. Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way.
noun
  1. An inscribed stone square.

Pronunciation

/əˈbæk/ /aˈbak/ en-us-aback.ogg en-ca-aback.ogg

Word forms

aback abacks

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.).

Synonyms

unawares

Related words

back

Derived words

aback of abackward
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