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   Back·ward

   /ˈbakwərd/

   

   adjective

   • 1. directed behind or to the rear: "she left the room without a backward glance"
   • ▪ looking toward the past, rather than being progressive; retrograde: "he said the decision was a backward step"
   • 2. having made less than normal progress: "economically backward countries"
   • ▪ (of a person) having an intellectual disability. dated, offensive

   adverb

   • 1. (of a movement) away from one's front; in the direction of one's back: "he took a step backward"
   • ▪ in reverse of the usual direction or order: "counting backward"
   • 2. toward or into the past: "a loving look backward at his early life"
   • ▪ toward or into a worse state: "a giant step backward for child-centered education"

   Word Origin Middle English: from earlier abackward, from aback.

   Derivatives

   • 1. backwardly adverb

   Scrabble Points: 20

   • B

     3

   • A

     1

   • C

     3

   • K

     5

   • W

     4

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • D

     2

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