Talk:backward

Backward(s) and forward(s), in every detail; thoroughly.

Idioms: thoroughly. --Backinstadiums (talk) 16:51, 2 April 2021 (UTC)

RFV discussion: March 2021

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backward

Adj. sense:

Reluctant or unable to advance or act.

She certainly isn't backward in coming forward!

• 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 51”, in The Moon and Sixpence:

  Then her eyes, always alert for the affairs of her kitchen, fell on some action of the Chinese cook which aroused her violent disapproval. She turned on him with a torrent of abuse. The Chink was not backward to defend himself, and a very lively quarrel ensued.

• 2003 August, “Media Prospecting”, in Mortgage Magazine‎^[1]:

  Don't be backward in suggesting story ideas to local media but always think of the wants, needs and desires of their readers when selling-in story ideas.

RFV "unable" only. The existing examples illustrate the "reluctant" sense, as I see it. Mihia (talk) 18:19, 11 March 2021 (UTC)

cited. Kiwima (talk) 19:56, 20 March 2021 (UTC)

RFV-passed Kiwima (talk) 21:17, 27 March 2021 (UTC)

RFV discussion: March–April 2021

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backward (2)

Adv. sense:

Toward or into the past; ago.

RFV "ago" only, which to me seems out of place. While "ago" does of course have a flavour of "into the past", I feel that we need more than that, such as a substitutable example, to justify mentioning it. Mihia (talk) 18:39, 11 March 2021 (UTC)

Not finding anything searching Google Books for "{months,years,hours} backward". This looked like it might be substitutable for "ago", but on further consideration, I think the author is probably saying the dry season is two months behind (i.e. it's happening two or more months later than it should), not two months ago. Here's another example with the "behind" sense. This usage, qualified with a quantity of time, should probably get a usex and/or quotation, and probably even a separate sense. Since if we say a baby is 4 months backward (behind) in walking, we mean that its walking is occurring forward in time (relative to the expected moment) which is sort of the opposite of "Toward or into the past". Colin M (talk) 06:33, 12 March 2021 (UTC)

To me, "backward" in e.g. "the dry season is two months backward" and "a baby is 4 months backward in walking" seems like an adjective. We already have an adjective definition "Late or behindhand", with example "a backward season". Mihia (talk) 12:09, 12 March 2021 (UTC)

Oops, yes, you're absolutely right. Though it currently lacks a usex/quote showing a quantity of time modifier, so I'll add that. Colin M (talk) 21:22, 13 March 2021 (UTC)

RFV-failed Kiwima (talk) 22:01, 12 April 2021 (UTC)