Devolving and Back

noun

• The posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine.
  • usage: "his back was nicely tanned"
  • synonyms: dorsum
• The side that goes last or is not normally seen.
  • usage: "he wrote the date on the back of the photograph"
  • synonyms: rear
• The part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer.
  • usage: "he stood at the back of the stage"; "it was hidden in the rear of the store"
  • synonyms: rear
• Football) a person who plays in the backfield. (
• The series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord.
  • usage: "the fall broke his back"
  • synonyms: spinal column, vertebral column, spine, backbone, rachis
• The protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book.
  • usage: "the book had a leather binding"
  • synonyms: binding, book binding, cover
• The part of a garment that covers the back of your body.
  • usage: "they pinned a `kick me' sign on his back"
• A support that you can lean against while sitting.
  • usage: "the back of the dental chair was adjustable"
  • synonyms: backrest
• American football. ( the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage)

verb

• Be behind; approve of.
  • usage: "He plumped for the Labor Party"; "I backed Kennedy in 1960"
  • synonyms: endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support
• Travel backward.
  • usage: "back into the driveway"; "The car backed up and hit the tree"
• Give support or one's approval to.
  • usage: "I'll second that motion"; "I can't back this plan"; "endorse a new project"
  • synonyms: second, endorse, indorse
• Cause to travel backward.
  • usage: "back the car into the parking spot"
• Support financial backing for.
  • usage: "back this enterprise"
• Be in back of.
  • usage: "My garage backs their yard"
• Place a bet on.
  • usage: "Which horse are you backing"; "I'm betting on the new horse"
  • synonyms: bet on, gage, stake, game, punt
• Shift to a counterclockwise direction.
  • usage: "the wind backed"
• Establish as valid or genuine.
  • usage: "Can you back up your claims"
  • synonyms: back up
• Strengthen by providing with a back or backing.

adjective

• Related to or located at the back.
  • usage: "the back yard"; "the back entrance"
• Located at or near the back of an animal.
  • usage: "back (or hind) legs"; "the hinder part of a carcass"
  • synonyms: hind, hinder
• Of an earlier date.
  • usage: "back issues of the magazine"

adverb

• In or to or toward a former location.
  • usage: "she went back to her parents' house"
• At or to or toward the back or rear.
  • usage: "he moved back"; "tripped when he stepped backward"; "she looked rearward out the window of the car"
  • synonyms: backward, backwards, rearward, rearwards
• In or to or toward an original condition.
  • usage: "he went back to sleep"
• In or to or toward a past time.
  • usage: "set the clocks back an hour"; "never look back"; "lovers of the past looking fondly backward"
  • synonyms: backward
• In reply.
  • usage: "he wrote back three days later"
• In repayment or retaliation.
  • usage: "we paid back everything we had borrowed"; "he hit me and I hit him back"; "I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher"

• (adv.) In a state of restraint or hindrance.
• (v.i.) To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.
• (n.) A garment for the back; hence, clothing.
• (v.i.) To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
• (v.i.) To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to back a friend.
• (n.) In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish or lobster.
• (v.i.) To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
• (n.) An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
• (a.) Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.
• (n.) The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife or of a saw.
• (n.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
• (a.) Moving or operating backward; as, back action.
• (n.) The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the back of a chimney.
• (adv.) To the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something left behind; to go back to one's native place; to put a book back after reading it.
• (n.) A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.
• (adv.) In, to or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back.
• (v.i.) To get upon the back of; to mount.
• (n.) The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail.
• (n.) A support or resource in reserve.
• (a.) Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
• (adv.) To a former state, condition or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.
• (adv.) In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another.
• (n.) The part opposite to or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight or not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill or of a village.
• (v.i.) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed; -- said of a dog.
• (v.i.) To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind.
• (adv.) (Of time) In times past; ago.
• (v.i.) To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse.
• (adv.) In withdrawal from a statement, promise or undertaking; as, he took back0 the offensive words.
• (adv.) Away from contact; by reverse movement.
• (v.i.) To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.
• (adv.) In return, repayment or requital.
• (n.) The upper part of a lode or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
• (adv.) In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent.
• (n.) A ferryboat. See Bac, 1.
• (v.i.) To place or seat upon the back.
• (v.i.) To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.