First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1rearward
noun rear·ward \ˈrir-ˌwȯrd\
Definition of REARWARD
: rear; especially : the rear division (as of an army)
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Origin of REARWARD
Middle English rerewarde, from Anglo-French rereguard, rerewarde rear guard
Rhymes with REARWARD
aboard, accord, afford, award, backboard, backsword, bargeboard, baseboard, billboard, blackboard, boxboard, breadboard, broadsword, buckboard, cardboard, chalkboard, chessboard, chipboard, clapboard, clipboard, concord, corkboard, dashboard, discord, draft board, duckboard, face cord, fjord, flashboard, floorboard, footboard, freeboard, greensward, hardboard, headboard, inboard, keyboard, kickboard, landlord, lapboard, leeboard, matchboard, moldboard, nerve cord, onboard, on board, outboard, packboard, pasteboard, patchboard, patch cord, Peg-Board, pressboard, punchboard, record, reward, sailboard, scoreboard, seaboard, shipboard, sideboard, signboard, skateboard, slumlord, smallsword, snowboard, soundboard, splashboard, springboard, surfboard, switchboard, tailboard, tote board, untoward, wakeboard, wallboard, warlord, washboard, whiteboard, whipcord, word-hoard
2rearward
adjective rear·ward \-wərd\
: located at, near, or toward the back of something
: directed toward the rear of something
Full Definition of REARWARD
1
: located at, near, or toward the rear
2
: directed toward the rear <a rearward glance>
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Origin of REARWARD
2rear + -ward
First Known Use: 1598
3rearward
adverb rear·ward \-wərd\
: at, near, or toward the rear
Full Definition of REARWARD
: at, near, or toward the rear : backward <looking rearward>
See rearward defined for English-language learners
Variants of REARWARD
rear·ward also rear·wards \-wərdz\
First Known Use of REARWARD
1625
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