{ } adv. [ Back, adv. + -ward. ] 1. With the back in advance or foremost; as, to ride backward. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. On the back, or with the back downward. [ 1913 Webster ] Thou wilt fall backward. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Toward, or in, past time or events; ago. [ 1913 Webster ] Some reigns backward. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. By way of reflection; reflexively. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin. [ 1913 Webster ] The work went backward. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. In a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily; as, to read backwards. [ 1913 Webster ] We might have . . . beat them backward home. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] Variants: Backward | 
