different between backward vs tardy
backward
English
Etymology
From Middle English bakwarde, abakward, equivalent to back (adverb) +? -ward.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /?bæk.w?(?)d/
- (US) enPR: b?k'w?rd, IPA(key): /?bækw?d/
Adjective
backward (comparative more backward, superlative most backward)
- Situated toward or at the rear of something.
- The silt collects in the backward part of the tank.
- Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing.
- Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
- Engage the lock to prevent backward rotation of the wheel.
- Synonym: retrograde
- (figuratively) Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress.
- Reversed in order or sequence.
- This backward writing is hard to read.
- Reluctant or unable to advance or act.
- (may be offensive) Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.
- They were a backward people without any writing.
- (may be offensive) Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.
- Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
- The party's ideas and policies are very backward.
- Synonyms: antediluvian, antiquated, backwards, parachronistic, retrograde; see also Thesaurus:obsolete
- Antonym: progressive
- Late or behindhand.
- Synonyms: overdue, tardy; see also Thesaurus:overdue
- (chess) Of a pawn, further behind than pawns of the same colour on adjacent files and unable to be moved forward safely.
- (cricket) On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease.
- (cricket) Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else.
- (obsolete) Unwilling; averse; reluctant.
- (obsolete) Already past or gone; bygone.
- Synonyms: forepast, historical; see also Thesaurus:past
Usage notes
Backwards is possible as a synonym for most senses, both adjectival and adverbial.
- Strictly speaking, in British English backward is an adjective and backwards is an adverb:
- It was a backward move vs He moved backwards
- In American English, the rule may be reversed, and in written American English, backward is more common for the adverb. This follows the same usage for similar words ending in -ward/-wards and -way/-ways. See also -wise.
- Only the -ward forms are commonly used in combination with an adjective, e.g.:
- A backward-facing statue.
Synonyms
- (toward the back): hindwards, rearward, retrograde
- (in the opposite direction of usual): contrariwise, reversedly; See also Thesaurus:contrarily
- (so that the back precedes the front): back to front, in reverse; See also Thesaurus:back to front
Derived terms
Synonyms
- (reversed): mirror image, switched, back to front
- (undeveloped): crude, dated, obsolete, primitive; see also Thesaurus:obsolete
Translations
Adverb
backward (comparative more backward, superlative most backward)
- At, near or towards the rear of something.
- The passenger turned around and walked backward, towards the tail of the aircraft.
- In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.
- He tilted his head backward.
- The grandfather clock toppled backward and crashed to the ground.
- Her arm was bent backward at an odd angle.
- In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
- In reverse gear the wheel turns backward.
- (figuratively) Oppositely to the desired direction of progress, or from a better to a worse state.
- This project seems to be going backward.
- 1700, John Dryden, Theodore and Honoria
- The work went backward.
- In a reversed orientation; back to front.
- He had his cap on backward.
- In a reversed order or sequence.
- A palindrome reads the same backward as forward.
- Toward or into the past;
- As we begin the new millennium, it behoves us to look backward as well as forward.
- (obsolete) In the past.
- By way of reflection; reflexively. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir J. Davies to this entry?)
Usage notes
See notes under adjective sense.
Antonyms
- forward, forwards
Translations
Noun
backward
- The state behind or past.
Translations
Related terms
- backwards
References
- backward at OneLook Dictionary Search
- backward in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
Anagrams
- draw back, drawback
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tardy
English
Etymology
From an earlier tardive, from French tardif, ultimately from Vulgar Latin *tardivus, from Latin tardus (“slow”, “sluggish”), of obscure origin.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /?t??di/
- (General American) IPA(key): /?t??di/
- Rhymes: -??(?)di
Adjective
tardy (comparative tardier, superlative tardiest)
- Late; overdue or delayed.
- c. 1597, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 3, Act IV, Scene 3,[1]
- When everything is ended, then you come.
- These tardy tricks of yours will, on my life,
- One time or other break some gallows’ back.
- 1795, Isaac D’Israeli, An Essay on the Manners and Genius of the Literary Character, London: T. Cadell Jr. and W. Davies, Chapter 9, p. 122,[2]
- Men of genius anticipate their contemporaries, and know they are such, long before the tardy consent of the public.
- 1914, Saki, “The Stake” in Beasts and Super-Beasts, London: John Lane, pp. 202-203,[3]
- As a matter of fact, the luncheon fare, when it made its tardy appearance, was distinctly unworthy of the reputation which the justly-treasured cook had built up for herself.
- 1963, James Baldwin, “Down at the Cross: Letter from a Region in My Mind” in The Fire Next Time, New York: Dial, p. 87,[4]
- And the Black Muslims, along with many people who are not Muslims, no longer wish for a recognition so grudging and (should it ever be achieved) so tardy.
- c. 1597, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 3, Act IV, Scene 3,[1]
- Moving with a slow pace or motion; not swift.
- c. 1595, William Shakespeare, Richard II, Act II, Scene 1,[5]
- […] fashions in proud Italy,
- Whose manners still our tardy apish nation
- Limps after in base imitation.
- 1638, George Sandys, “To the Prince” in A Paraphrase upon the Divine Poems, London,[6]
- Nor should their Age by Yeares be told:
- Whose Souls, more swift then Motion, clime;
- And check the tardy Flight of Time.
- 1700, Matthew Prior, “Carmen Seculare, For the Year 1700. To the King” in Poems on Several Occasions, London: Jacob Tonson, 2nd edition, 1709, p. 151,[7]
- In various Views she tries her constant Theme;
- Finds him, in Councils, and in Arms, the same:
- When certain to o’ercome, inclin’d to save;
- Tardy to Vengeance; and with Mercy brave.
- 1839, Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, Chapter 49,[8]
- […] a disease which medicine never cured, wealth never warded off, or poverty could boast exemption from; which sometimes moves in giant strides, and sometimes at a tardy sluggish pace, but, slow or quick, is ever sure and certain.
- 1926, Hope Mirrlees, Lud-in-the-Mist, Millenium, 2000, Chapter 19,[9]
- These berries […] are a deadly and insidious poison, though very tardy in their action, often lying dormant in the blood for many days.
- c. 1595, William Shakespeare, Richard II, Act II, Scene 1,[5]
- Ineffectual; slow-witted, slow to act, or dull.
- His tardy performance bordered on incompetence.
- (obsolete) Unwary; unready (especially in the phrase take (someone) tardy).
- c. 1592,, William Shakespeare, Richard III, Act IV, Scene 1,[10]
- Be not ta’en tardy by unwise delay.
- 1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, London, Canto 3, p. 104,[11]
- Yield, Scoundrel base (quoth she) or die;
- Thy life is mine, and liberty.
- But if thou think’st I took thee tardy,
- And dar’st presume to be so hardy,
- To try thy fortune o’re afresh,
- I’le wave my title to thy flesh,
- c. 1592,, William Shakespeare, Richard III, Act IV, Scene 1,[10]
- (obsolete) Criminal; guilty.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Collier to this entry?)
Usage notes
- The term suggests habitual lateness.
- Somewhat dated in the United Kingdom.
Synonyms
- (late; overdue; not on time): belated, delayed
Translations
Noun
tardy (plural tardies)
- (US) A piece of paper given to students who are late to class.
- (US) An instance of a student being marked as tardy by a teacher on their attendance sheet.
See also
- tardy slip
Verb
tardy (third-person singular simple present tardies, present participle tardying, simple past and past participle tardied)
- (obsolete, transitive) To make tardy.
Anagrams
- Darty
tardy From the web:
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