aback

American  

[uh-bak] / əˈbæk /

adverb

1. toward the back.

2. Nautical. so that the wind presses against the forward side of the sail or sails.

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adjective

Nautical.

1. (of a sail) positioned so that the wind presses against the forward side.

2. (of a yard) positioned so that its sail is laid aback.

idioms

1. taken aback, surprised and disconcerted.

   I was taken aback by his harsh criticism.

aback British  

/ əˈbæk /

adverb

1. 1. startled or disconcerted

   2. nautical (of a vessel or sail) having the wind against the forward side so as to prevent forward motion

2. rare towards the back; backwards

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aback More Idioms  

1. see take aback.

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Etymology

Origin of aback

First recorded before 1000; Middle English abak, Old English on bæc “to the rear”; see a- ¹, on, back ¹

Explanation

To be taken aback is to be taken by surprise. You might be taken aback when your grandmother suddenly demonstrates her yodeling skills. When you see the adverb aback, it almost always follows the verb "to take." When you're taken aback, you're startled, often by another person's actions. If someone makes a rude comment at a dinner party, for example, you'll be taken aback. The word dates from about 1200, and it comes from the Old English on bæc, "at or on the back." It was first used as a nautical term for a strong wind flattening the sail against the ship's mast.

Example Sentences

Aback, fellows, and give me room, Or I shall make you to avoid soon!

From A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2 by Hazlitt, William Carew

Now peace is won And all strife done, And in our hands The fame of lands Aback we bear To the dale the dear, And the Fathers lie Made glad thereby.

From The Sundering Flood by Morris, May

And this is he, this is the man thou oft hast heard foretold, Augustus Cæsar, sprung from God to bring the age of gold Aback unto the Latin fields, where Saturn once was king.

From The Æneids of Virgil Done into English Verse by Morris, William

When he was ware of this, Aback he start, and thought it was amiss; For well he wist a woman hath no beard.

From The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by Purves, D. Laing

P. 14, ABOX, 'Brace-abox' amended to Brace Aback.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

Related Words

• surprised