back
Old Englishthe rear of the body; the rear or reverse side; backward, in return
About This Root
From Old English bæc (the back of the body), a native Germanic word. As a free-standing word and combining form it builds a family about what is behind, what moves rearward, and what reverses: background (the scene behind), setback (pushed back), drawback (pulled back), backslide (slide backward). The physical 'rear' extends naturally into metaphors of retreat, reversal and support.
Associated Words · 10
back
To go in the reverse direction; The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly; Near the rear
background
A person's experience and origins; the part of a scene behind the main subject
setback
An unexpected problem or reversal that hinders progress
drawback
A disadvantage or problem
backwater
Stagnant water held back by a dam; a remote, undeveloped place
throwback
A reversion to an earlier type or stage; something reminiscent of the past
backslide
To revert to a worse state in morals or behaviour
backache
A pain or ache in the back
backhanded
Done with the back of the hand; indirect or sarcastic
backset
A setback or relapse