Back″ward, a. 1. Directed to the back or rear; as, backward glances.
2. Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; loath.
For wiser brutes were backward to be slaves.
Pope.
3. Not well advanced in learning; not quick of apprehension; dull; inapt; as, a backward child. “The backward learner.” South.
4. Late or behindhand; as, a backward season.
5. Not advanced in civilization; undeveloped; as, the country or region is in a backward state.
6. Already past or gone; bygone.
And flies unconscious o'er each backward year.
Byron.