different between aback vs alack

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??bæk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??bæk/
• Rhymes: -æk

Etymology 1

• From Middle English abak, from Old English onbæc.
• a- (“towards”) +? back (“back”).

Compare West Frisian tebek (“aback”, adverb, literally “to/at back”), Swedish tillbaka (idem.).

Adverb

aback (not comparable)

1. (archaic) Towards the back or rear; backwards. [First attested prior to 1150.]
2. (archaic) In the rear; a distance behind. [First attested prior to 1150.]

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Knolles to this entry?)
3. By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)
4. (nautical) Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way. [First attested in the late 17^th century.]

Usage notes

• (by surprise): Preceded by a form of the word take, see take aback.

Translations

See also

• Category:English phrasal verbs with particle (aback)

Etymology 2

From abacus.

Noun

aback (plural abacks)

1. (obsolete) An abacus.

Translations

References

Anagrams

• Baack, Ba?ka

English

Etymology

From Middle English alacke, alagge, probably from ah +? lack.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??læk/
• Rhymes: -æk

Interjection

alack

1. An expression of sorrow or mourning.
   • 1595-96, William Shakespeare, Love's Labour Lost, Act IV, Scene iii:

Synonyms

• alackaday
• alas

Derived terms

• alack and alas
• alas and alack

Translations