Roland was taken aback by our strength of feeling...
Derek was taken aback when a man answered the phone.
English dictionary. 2008.
Aback — A*back ([.a]*b[a^]k ), adv. [Pref. a + back; AS. on b[ae]c at, on, or toward the back. See {Back}.] 1. Toward the back or rear; backward. Therewith aback she started. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. Behind; in the rear. Knolles. [1913 Webster] 3.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
aback — ► ADVERB archaic ▪ towards or situated to the rear. ● take aback Cf. ↑take aback ORIGIN Old English … English terms dictionary
aback — (adv.) c.1200, from O.E. on bæc at or on the back; see BACK (Cf. back) (n.). Now surviving mainly in taken aback, originally a nautical expression in reference to a sudden change of wind that flattens the square sails back against the masts and… … Etymology dictionary
aback — [ə bak′] adv. [OE on bæc, at or on the back] 1. Archaic backward; back 2. Naut. backward against the mast, as the sails of a square rigged vessel in a wind from straight ahead taken aback 1. Naut. in an unmanageable condition, as because of a… … English World dictionary
Aback — Ab ack ([a^]b ak), n. An abacus. [Obs.] B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
aback — [adv] taken unawares confused, surprised, thrown off, thrown off guard*; concept 403 … New thesaurus
aback — adv. taken aback (I was taken aback) ( I was startled ) * * * [ə bæk] taken aback ( I was startled ; I was taken aback) … Combinatory dictionary
aback — adv. 1 archaic backwards, behind. 2 Naut. (of a sail) pressed against the mast by a head wind. Phrases and idioms: take aback 1 surprise, disconcert (your request took me aback; I was greatly taken aback by the news). 2 (as taken aback) (of a… … Useful english dictionary
aback — /euh bak /, adv. 1. toward the back. 2. Naut. so that the wind presses against the forward side of the sail or sails. 3. taken aback, surprised and disconcerted: I was taken aback by his harsh criticism. adj. Naut. 4. (of a sail) positioned so… … Universalium
aback — adverb /əˈbæk/ a) Towards the back or rear; backwards; away. Therewith aback she started. b) Behind; in the rear. By setting the foresail aback and the headsail in the middle one can bring a fore and aft rigged sailing boat practically to a halt… … Wiktionary
