Aback

Part of Speech

Adverb

Pronunciation

/əˈbæk/

Definitions

• In a direction toward the back; backward.
• In a state of surprise or shock.

Usage Examples

• She was taken aback by the sudden news.
• The ship was caught aback by the unexpected wind change.

Etymology

The word "aback" originates from the combination of the prefix "a-" (meaning "on, in, or at") and "back."

Synonyms

• Surprised
• Astonished

Antonyms

• Forward
• Unsurprised

Translations

• Spanish: sorprendido
• French: surpris
• German: überrascht
• Italian: sorpreso
• Portuguese: surpreendido
• Russian: удивлённый
• Chinese (Simplified): 感到惊讶
• Japanese: 驚いた
• Korean: 놀란
• Arabic: مندهش
• Hindi: चौंक गया
• Bengali: অবাক
• Punjabi: ਹੈਰਾਨ
• Gujarati: આશ્ચર્યચકિત
• Marathi: आश्चर्यचकित
• Tamil: அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த
• Telugu: ఆశ్చర్యపోయాడు
• Malayalam: ആശ്ചര്യപ്പെടുത്തി
• Kannada: ಹೃದಯಭಂಗದಿಂದ
• Odia: ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ୟ
• Assamese: আচম্বিত
• Urdu: حیرت زدہ
• Manipuri: আচম্বিত
• Sindhi: حيرت ۾

Regional Pronunciation Variations

Pronunciation may vary in different English-speaking regions.

Historical Usage

The term has been used since the 16th century, often in nautical contexts.

Cultural Nuances

In literature, "taken aback" often conveys strong emotions and reactions to unforeseen circumstances.

More Information

Understanding the context in which "aback" is used can enhance comprehension of emotional responses in both written and spoken communication.