backwards
advEtymology From Middle English bakwardis, bakwardis, a variant of Middle English bakwarde, bakward (“backward”). Equivalent to backward + -s. Compare Saterland Frisian bäkove (“backwards”).
1
Synonym of backward; see usage notes there.
- The length of the stoppages could not well be reduced; indeed, they are already too short if we are to believe the tale now current of a wandering Jew sort of passenger—a lady of advanced years who can only alight from a train backwards. Every time she begins to get out a porter rushes up crying "Hurry up, ma'am; train's going!"—and pushes her in again!1944 May and June, “When the Circle was Steam Operated”, in Railway Magazine, page 150:
- My train back is a Class 800 bi-mode. These are not too bad, except for their awful seats - compared with the seats on the HST, they are a step backwards.2025 November 12, 'Mystery Shopper', “Is Devon the cream of the crop?”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 47:
- Related terms
- downwards, eastwards, forwards, homewards, inwards, landwards, leewards, northwards, outwards, seawards, shorewards, sidewards, skywards, southwards, sternwards, towards, upwards, westwards, windwards