Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Backwards
{
Back′ward
,Back′wards
, }adv.
[
Back
, adv. + -ward
.] 1.
With the back in advance or foremost;
as, to ride
. backward
2.
Toward the back; toward the rear;
as, to throw the arms
. backward
3.
On the back, or with the back downward.
Thou wilt fall
backward
. Shakespeare
4.
Toward, or in, past time or events; ago.
Some reigns
backward
. Locke.
5.
By way of reflection; reflexively.
Sir J. Davies.
6.
From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin.
The work went
backward
. Dryden.
7.
In a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily;
as, to read
. backwards
We might have . . . beat them
backward
home. Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Backwards
BACK'WARDS
, adv.[back and ward. See Ward.] With the back in advance; as, to move backward. 2. Toward the back; as, to throw the arms backward; to move backwards and forwards.
3. On the back, or with the back downwards; as, to fall backward.
4. Toward past times or events; as to look backward on the history of man.
5. By way of reflection; reflexively.
6. From a better to a worse state; as, public affairs go backward.
7. In time past; as,let us look some ages backward.
8. Perversely; from a wrong end.
I never yet saw man but she would spell him backward.
9. Towards the beginning; in an order contrary to the natural order; as, to read backward.
10.
In a scriptural sense, to go or turn backward, is to rebel, apostatize, or relapse into sin, or idolatry. Is.i.11.
Contrarily; in a contrary manner.To be driven or turned backward, is to be defeated, or disappointed. Ps.xl.turn judgment backward, is to pervert justice and laws. Is.lix.