Etymology

backwards

back·wards
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Today it means: Synonym of backward; see usage notes there. Full definition →

Middle English bakwardis
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backwards · adjective1

From backward + -s. See also -s (“used in the formation of certain adverbs: backwards, downwards, inwards, etc.”).

backwards · adverb2

  1. Middle English · inherited frombakwardis
  2. English todaybackwards

From Middle English bakwardis, bakwardis, a variant of Middle English bakwarde, bakward (“backward”). Equivalent to backward + -s. Compare Saterland Frisian bäkove (“backwards”).

backwards · verb3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.