{ 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.