2. Toward the back; as, to throw the arms backward; to move backwards and forwards.
3. On the back, or with the back downwards; as, to fall backward.
4. Toward past times or events; as to look backward on the history of man.
5. by way of reflection; reflexively.
6. From a better to a worse state; as, public affairs go backward.
7. In time past; as,let us look some ages backward.
8. Perversely; from a wrong end.
I never yet saw man but she would spell him backward.
9. Towards the beginning; in an order contrary to the natural order; as, to read backward.
10. In a scriptural sense, to go or turn backward, is to rebel, apostatize, or relapse into sin, or idolatry. Isa 1.
11. Contrarily; in a contrary manner.
To be driven or turned backward, is to be defeated, or disappointed. Ps.xl.turn judgment backward, is to pervert justice and laws. Is.lix.
BACK'WARD, a. Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating. For wiser brutes are backward to be slaves.
2. Slow; sluggish; dilatory. The mind is backward to undergo the fatigue of weighing every argument.
3. Dull; not quick of apprehension; behind in progress; as a backward learner.
4. Late; behind in time; coming after something else, or after the usual time; as backward fruits; the season is backward.
BACK'WARD, n. The things or state behind or past.
In the dark backward or abysm of time. [Not proper,nor in use.]
