ˈbækwədz adv. 1
away from one's
front (lean backwards;
look backwards). 2 a
with the back foremost (walk backwards). b in
reverse of the
usual way (count backwards; spell backwards). 3 a
into a
worse state (new policies are
taking us backwards). b into the
past (looked backwards
over the years). c (of a thing's motion) back
towards the starting-point (rolled backwards). øbackwards
and forwards in
both directions alternately; to and
fro. bend (or
fall or lean) over backwards (often foll. by to + infin.) colloq.
make every effort,
esp. to be fair or
helpful.
know backwards be
entirely familiar with.