be+taken+aback
11To be taken aback — Aback A*back ([.a]*b[a^]k ), adv. [Pref. a + back; AS. on b[ae]c at, on, or toward the back. See {Back}.] 1. Toward the back or rear; backward. Therewith aback she started. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. Behind; in the rear. Knolles. [1913 Webster] 3 …
12To be taken aback — Take Take, v. t. [imp. {Took} (t[oo^]k); p. p. {Taken} (t[=a]k n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Taking}.] [Icel. taka; akin to Sw. taga, Dan. tage, Goth. t[=e]kan to touch; of uncertain origin.] 1. In an active sense; To lay hold of; to seize with the hands …
13(be) taken aback (by somebody) — be taken aˈback (by sb/sth) idiom to be shocked or surprised by sb/sth • She was completely taken aback by his anger. Main entry: ↑abackidiom …
14(be) taken aback (by something) — be taken aˈback (by sb/sth) idiom to be shocked or surprised by sb/sth • She was completely taken aback by his anger. Main entry: ↑abackidiom …
15taken aback — adjective a) surprised, shocked b) said of a ship, when the wind, suddenly changing, forces the sails aft against the mast …
16taken aback — disconcerted (See discontent) …
17taken aback — disconcerted, surprised, dismayed …
18taken aback — surprised, startled, astonished, shocked, astounded, stupefied; flabbergasted, stunned, bewildered, amazed, thunderstruck, dumfounded; perplexed, confounded, nonplused, disconcerted, discomposed, discomfited, Inf. thrown off guard, Inf. thrown… …
19Aback — A*back ([.a]*b[a^]k ), adv. [Pref. a + back; AS. on b[ae]c at, on, or toward the back. See {Back}.] 1. Toward the back or rear; backward. Therewith aback she started. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. Behind; in the rear. Knolles. [1913 Webster] 3.… …
20aback — (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… …
