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.
Shak.
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.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.