Definition of backward

The word "backward" has its origins in Old English and Middle English. The term "backward" comes from the Old English word "beorg" which meant "behind" or "at the back of". This Old English word is also the source of the modern English word "behind". In Middle English (circa 11th to 15th centuries), the word "backward" emerged as a compound word "bē [behind] wor[d]e [ward]", meaning "behind the word" or "behind the sentence". This word meant something was said or done after the expected or usual time. Over time, the meaning of "backward" evolved to include connotations of regression, regression, and inadequacy, such as "moving or acting in a slow or unsteady manner", or "achieve little or no progress". Despite its evolution, the word "backward" still retains its roots in the original Old English meaning of "behind".