In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
BACKWARD
backward
(adjective) directed or facing toward the back or rear; “a backward view”
backward
(adjective) (used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature; “a backward lover”
backward
(adjective) having made less than normal progress; “an economically backward country”
backward, half-witted, slow-witted, feebleminded
(adjective) retarded in intellectual development
back, backward
(adverb) in or to or toward a past time; “set the clocks back an hour”; “never look back”; “lovers of the past looking fondly backward”
back, backward, backwards, rearward, rearwards
(adverb) at or to or toward the back or rear; “he moved back”; “tripped when he stepped backward”; “she looked rearward out the window of the car”
backward, backwards
(adverb) in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal; “it’s easy to get the ‘i’ and the ‘e’ backward in words like ‘seize’ and ‘siege’”; “the child put her jersey on backward”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
backward (comparative more backward, superlative most backward)
(of motion) In the direction towards the back.
(of motion) In the direction reverse of normal.
Synonym: retrograde
Reluctant or unable to advance.
Of a culture: undeveloped or unsophisticated.
Synonyms: developing, Third World
Antonyms: developed, First World, forward
Outdated.
Synonyms: antediluvian, antiquated, backwards, parachronistic, retrograde, Thesaurus:obsolete
Antonym: progressive
(cricket) On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease.
(cricket) Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else.
(obsolete) Unwilling; averse; reluctant.
Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.
Late or behindhand.
Synonyms: overdue, tardy, Thesaurus:overdue
(obsolete) Already past or gone; bygone.
Synonyms: forepast, historical, Thesaurus:past
Adverb
backward (comparative more backward, superlative most backward)
(of motion) In the direction towards the back; backwards
Toward, or in, past time or events; ago.
By way of reflection; reflexively.
From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin.
Synonyms
• backwards
Antonyms
• forward, forwards
Noun
backward
The state behind or past.
Anagrams
• draw back, drawback
Source: Wiktionary
Back"ward, Back"wards, adv. Etym: [Back, adv. + -ward.]
1. With the back in advance or foremost; as, to ride backward.
2. Toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward.
3. On the back, or with the back downward. Thou wilt fall backward. Shak.
4. Toward, or in, past time or events; ago. Some reigns backward. Locke.
5. By way of reflection; reflexively. Sir J. Davies.
6. From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin. The work went backward. Dryden.
7. In a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily; as, to read backwards. We might have . . . beat them backward home. Shak.
Back"ward, a.
1. Directed to the back or rear; as, backward glances.
2. Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; loath. For wiser brutes were backward to be slaves. Pope.
3. Not well advanced in learning; not quick of apprehension; dull; inapt; as, a backward child. "The backward learner." South.
4. Late or behindhand; as, a backward season.
5. Not advanced in civilization; undeveloped; as, the country or region is in a backward state.
6. Already past or gone; bygone. [R.] And flies unconscious o'er each backward year. Byron.
Back"ward, n.
Definition: The state behind or past. [Obs.] In the dark backward and abysm of time. Shak.
Back"ward, v. i.
Definition: To keep back; to hinder. [Obs.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Coffee Trivia
