Chapter 13
Back, backward(s) On2, forward, ahead
1. Overview Back is an intransitive preposition of path (or directional adverb). Most typically it refers to movement by the Subject. Its two main, approximate antonyms are on2 (especially for movement over some distance) and forward (especially for movement over a short distance). Backward(s) is not directly about movement at all. Instead, it indicates that a Subject’s organization or composition is the reverse of normal. For example, this is the word backward spelled backward: drawkcab. Opposites of backward are forward and expressions such as in the normal way. backward is idiomatic in that the two parts of the word suggest a meaning, ‘in the direction of the back’, which quite often it does not have (whereas back does).
2. B ack 2.1 B ack ~ ‘in the opposite direction to the direction the Subject is facing’ Sometimes back is the opposite of forward, as shown in Figures 13.1a/b. Although, in the case of literal or, especially, fictive or figurative movement, it is also the opposite of ahead (e.g. Drive ahead or back a couple feet then stopW; Do you turn your clock ahead or back for daylight savings time?W)
Leaning back to look at a star. Figure 13.1a
Leaning forward to look at a tulip. Figure 13.1b