aback — ► ADVERB archaic ▪ towards or situated to the rear. ● take aback Cf. ↑take aback ORIGIN Old English … English terms dictionary
aback — (adv.) c.1200, from O.E. on bæc at or on the back; see BACK (Cf. back) (n.). Now surviving mainly in taken aback, originally a nautical expression in reference to a sudden change of wind that flattens the square sails back against the masts and… … Etymology dictionary
aback — [ə bak′] adv. [OE on bæc, at or on the back] 1. Archaic backward; back 2. Naut. backward against the mast, as the sails of a square rigged vessel in a wind from straight ahead taken aback 1. Naut. in an unmanageable condition, as because of a… … English World dictionary
Aback — Ab ack ([a^]b ak), n. An abacus. [Obs.] B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
aback — [adv] taken unawares confused, surprised, thrown off, thrown off guard*; concept 403 … New thesaurus
aback — adv. taken aback (I was taken aback) ( I was startled ) * * * [ə bæk] taken aback ( I was startled ; I was taken aback) … Combinatory dictionary
aback — adv. 1 archaic backwards, behind. 2 Naut. (of a sail) pressed against the mast by a head wind. Phrases and idioms: take aback 1 surprise, disconcert (your request took me aback; I was greatly taken aback by the news). 2 (as taken aback) (of a… … Useful english dictionary
aback — /euh bak /, adv. 1. toward the back. 2. Naut. so that the wind presses against the forward side of the sail or sails. 3. taken aback, surprised and disconcerted: I was taken aback by his harsh criticism. adj. Naut. 4. (of a sail) positioned so… … Universalium
aback — [[t]əbæ̱k[/t]] PHRASE: usu v link PHR, oft PHR by n If you are taken aback by something, you are surprised or shocked by it and you cannot respond at once. Roland was taken aback by our strength of feeling... Derek was taken aback when a man… … English dictionary
aback — adverb /əˈbæk/ a) Towards the back or rear; backwards; away. Therewith aback she started. b) Behind; in the rear. By setting the foresail aback and the headsail in the middle one can bring a fore and aft rigged sailing boat practically to a halt… … Wiktionary
