What does Aback mean?

Definitions for Aback
əˈbækaback

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Aback.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. abackadverb

    having the wind against the forward side of the sails

    "the ship came up into the wind with all yards aback"

  2. abackadverb

    by surprise

    "taken aback by the caustic remarks"

ChatGPT

  1. aback

    Aback is an adverb that means surprised, shocked, or taken unaware. It's often used in the phrase "taken aback," indicating a strong or sudden surprise reaction. It can also refer to a backward position in sailing.

  2. aback

    Aback refers to a state of surprise, shock or confusion. It is usually used in the phrase "taken aback" which means to be suddenly and unexpectedly surprised or shocked. It can also refer to a backward positioning or direction, specifically in terms of sailing, when a ship's sails are filled from the opposite direction.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Abackadverb

    toward the back or rear; backward

  2. Abackadverb

    behind; in the rear

  3. Abackadverb

    backward against the mast; -- said of the sails when pressed by the wind

  4. Abacknoun

    an abacus

  5. Etymology: [Pref. a- + back; AS. on bc at, on, or toward the back. See Back.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Aback

    a-bak′, adv. (naut.) said of sails pressed backward against the mast by the wind—hence (fig.) Taken aback, taken by surprise, [A.S. on bæc. See On and Back.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. aback

    The situation of a ship's sails when the wind bears against their front surfaces. They are laid aback, when this is purposely effected to deaden her way by rounding in the weather-braces; and taken aback, when brought to by an unexpected change of wind, or by inattention in the helmsman.--All aback forward, the notice given from the forecastle, when the head-sails are pressed aback by a sudden change in the wind. (See WORK ABACK.)--Taken aback, a colloquialism for being suddenly surprised or found out.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Aback in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Aback in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of Aback in a Sentence

  1. Suniya Luthar:

    I was a little taken aback to see that apparently preadolescence is the new adolescence or junior high school or middle school is the new high school.

  2. Askia Muhammad:

    A staff member from the black caucus called me and said ‘we have to have the picture back,’ and I was kind of taken aback. And we talked a couple of times on the phone after that, and I said ‘Okay, I will give the picture back to Minister Farrakhan’s chief of staff,’.

  3. Zach Adamson:

    I've been taken aback by the mischaracterizations from outside the state of Indiana about what is in this bill. this isn't 1950 Alabama; it's 2015 Indiana.

  4. Bo Dietl:

    Michael Cohen was very taken aback that no one was communicating with Michael Cohen, you're so close to somebody and all of a sudden they stop talking to you, you wonder what's happened.

  5. Brittany Kaiser:

    I was very taken aback and disappointed in Sheryl Sandberg’s public statement that if an individual did not want to continue to share their data with FB they would have to pay, to me, that sounds like a threat. Continue to let us use your property or pay?

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for Aback

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"Aback." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Aback>.

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    cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious
    A elate
    B abash
    C loom
    D famish

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