Definition of behind

The word "behind" has its origins in Old English. In Old English, the word "behind" was spelled as "bēhīnd" and was an adverb that meant "followed by" or "after". This word is derived from the prefix "be-" meaning "to be" or "to become" and the suffix "-hīnd" meaning "after" or "following". In Old English, the word "behind" was used to describe the position of one thing behind another. For example, "the house behind the hill" meant the house was located after the hill. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the sense of spatial proximity, meaning something was situated aft of something else. In Modern English, the word "behind" is used in a variety of contexts, including spatial relationships, temporal sequences, and figurative expressions. Despite its evolution, the word "behind" remains a fundamental part of the English language, used daily by millions of people around the world.