different between rearward vs behind

English

Etymology

rear +? -ward

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??i?.w? d/

Noun

rearward (plural rearwards)

1. The part that comes last or is situated in the rear; conclusion, wind-up.
2. The last troop; the rear of an army; a rear guard.

Alternative forms

• rereward (obsolete)

Adjective

rearward (comparative more rearward, superlative most rearward)

1. Toward the back or rear of something.

   The rearward seats of the bus were unpleasantly close to the toilet facilities.

Adverb

rearward

1. Toward the back or rear of something.
   • 1991, Peter Cozzens, Better Place to Die: The Battle of Stones River (page 124)

     The ensuing struggle was bitter but brief, as for a third time the Alabamians stumbled rearward through the cedars. If Manigault were to take the guns, he would need help.

English

Alternative forms

• behine (archaic, AAVE)

Etymology

From Middle English behinde, behinden, from Old English behindan (“on the back side of, behind”), equivalent to be- +? hind. Compare Old Saxon bihindan (“behind”, adverb), Middle High German behinter (“behind; back”).

Pronunciation

• (preposition, adverb)
  • IPA^(key): /b??ha?nd/, /b??ha?nd/
• (noun)
  • (General American) IPA^(key): /?bi??ha?nd/, /b??ha?nd/
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /b??ha?nd/, /b??ha?nd/
• Hyphenation: be?hind

Preposition

behind

1. At the back of; positioned with something else in front of.
2. To the back of. (Can we clean up⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)
3. After, time- or motion-wise.
4. responsible for

5. In support of.

6. Left a distance by, in progress or improvement; inferior to.
7. (nonstandard, US, slang) As a result or consequence of

Synonyms

• (at the back of): a-back (Chester), in back of, to the rear of.

Antonyms

• in front of

Derived terms

• behind every successful man there stands a woman

Translations

Adverb

behind (comparative behinder or more behind, superlative behindest or most behind)

1. At the back part; in the rear. (Can we clean up⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)
2. Toward the back part or rear; backward.

3. Overdue, in arrears.

4. Slow; of a watch or clock.

5. existing afterwards
6. Backward in time or order of succession; past.
7. Behind the scenes in a theatre; backstage.
8. (archaic) Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of sight; remaining.

   • We cannot be sure that there is no evidence behind.

Usage notes

For usage in phrasal verbs, see Category:English phrasal verbs with particle (behind).

Translations

Noun

behind (plural behinds)

1. the rear, back-end
2. (informal) butt, the buttocks, bottom
3. (Australian rules football) A one-point score.
4. (baseball, slang, 1800s) The catcher.
5. In the Eton College field game, any of a group of players consisting of two "shorts" (who try to kick the ball over the bully) and a "long" (who defends the goal).

Translations

Derived terms

Related terms

• hind
• hiney

References

• behind in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• behind in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Andrea Tyler and Vyvyan Evans, "Spatial particles of orientation", in The Semantics of English Prepositions: Spatial Scenes, Embodied Meaning and Cognition, Cambridge University Press, 2003, 0-521-81430 8