English Explanatory Dictionary

taken aback

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Surprised, shocked.
  2. Said of a ship, when the wind, suddenly changing, forces the sails aft against the mast.
verb
  1. past participle of take aback

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-taken aback.wav

Word forms

taken aback more taken aback most taken aback

Etymology

From taken + aback, first attested in 1840.

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