English English Dictionary

English English Dictionary

The online English-English dictionary from The Project Gutenberg

Dictionary

Back (adv.)

To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.

Back (adv.)

(Of time) In times past; ago.

Back (adv.)

Away from contact; by reverse movement.

Back (adv.)

In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another.

Back (adv.)

In a state of restraint or hindrance.

Back (adv.)

In return, repayment, or requital.

Back (adv.)

In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back0 the offensive words.

Back (adv.)

In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent.

Back door

A door in the back part of a building; hence, an indirect way.

Back stairs

Stairs in the back part of a house, as distinguished from the front stairs; hence, a private or indirect way.

Backarack (n.)

A kind of wine made at Bacharach on the Rhine.

Backarack (n.)

See Bacharach.

Backare (interj.)

Stand back! give place! -- a cant word of the Elizabethan writers, probably in ridicule of some person who pretended to a knowledge of Latin which he did not possess.

Backare (interj.)

Same as Baccare.

Backband (n.)

The band which passes over the back of a horse and holds up the shafts of a carriage.

Backbite (v. i.)

To wound by clandestine detraction; to censure meanly or spitefully (an absent person); to slander or speak evil of (one absent).

Backbite (v. i.)

To censure or revile the absent.

Backbiter (n.)

One who backbites; a secret calumniator or detractor.

Backbiting (n.)

Secret slander; detraction.

Backboard (n.)

A thin stuff used for the backs of framed pictures, mirrors, etc.