An act of backing down; a retraction or withdrawal.
backsword
backsword
noun
(UK, dated) A stick with a basket handle, used in rustic amusements.
(UK, dated) The game in which the stick is used.
A sword with one sharp edge.
backswording
backswording
noun
Sport or exercise using a backsword or singlestick.
backswordman
backswordman
noun
(historical) One who fights with a backsword or singlestick.
backswordmen
backswordmen
noun
plural of backswordman
backswordsman
backward
backward
adj
(chess) Of a pawn, further behind than pawns of the same colour on adjacent files and unable to be moved forward safely.
(cricket) Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else.
(cricket) On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease.
(figuratively) Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress.
(figuratively) Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.
(figuratively) Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.
(obsolete) Already past or gone; bygone.
(obsolete) Unwilling; averse; reluctant.
Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing.
Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
Late or behindhand.
Reluctant or unable to advance or act.
Reversed in order or sequence.
Situated toward or at the rear of something.
adv
(figuratively) Oppositely to the desired direction of progress, or from a better to a worse state.
(obsolete) In the past.
At, near or towards the rear of something.
By way of reflection; reflexively.
In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
In a reversed order or sequence.
In a reversed orientation; back to front.
Toward or into the past;
noun
The state behind or past.
backwardation
backwardation
noun
(obsolete) In the London Stock Exchange: a fee paid by a seller on settlement day either to the buyer or to a third party who lends stock, when the seller wishes to defer settlement until the next settlement day.
In full normal backwardation: the situation in a futures market where the price for future delivery of a commodity (the forward price) is lower than the price for immediate delivery (the spot price) or nearer delivery, generally arising from a near-term shortage of the commodity.
The situation in a stock market where the offer price for stock is lower than the bid price.
backwardly
backwardly
adv
In a backward direction.
backwardness
backwardness
noun
Reluctance.
The state of being backward.
backwardnesses
backwardnesses
noun
plural of backwardness
backwards
backwards
adj
Synonym of backward; see usage notes there.
backwashed
backwashed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backwash
backwatered
backwatered
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backwater
backwind
backwind
noun
(nautical) The flow of air so deflected
verb
(nautical) To deflect air into the back of a sail or of a vessel
(transitive) To wind backwards.
backwinded
backwinding
backwinding
verb
present participle of backwind
backwood
backwood
adj
Native to or located in a remote rural location.
Rustic, unsophisticated, countrified.
backwoods
backwoods
adj
Pertaining to the backwoods.
Rough, uncouth, coarse, or crude in social matters.
noun
A remote or sparsely inhabited region, especially in North America; away from big towns and from the influence of modern life.
Partly or wholly uncleared forest, especially in North America.
backwoodser
backwoodsiness
backwoodsiness
noun
The quality of being backwoodsy.
backwoodsman
backwoodsman
noun
(informal, UK politics) A Peer who is seldom present in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom Parliament, who may be encouraged to attend when a very important vote is expected.
A person who is acclimated to living in a forest area that is far removed from civilization or modern conveniences.
An uncivilized person.
backwoodsmen
backwoodsmen
noun
plural of backwoodsman
backwoodsy
backwoodsy
adj
(US) Typical of something or someone from the backwoods
backword
backword
noun
A contention, retort, or reply.
A contradiction or answer to put off an engagement; a countermand.
A section of commentary at the end of a book.
baconweed
baconweed
noun
Synonym of pigweed (“the plant Chenopodium album”)
badawi
badgerweed
bagwigged
bagwigged
adj
Wearing a bag wig.
bahawder
bahawder
noun
Obsolete form of bahadur.
bailwood
baldcrown
baldricwise
baldricwise
adv
In the manner of a baldric.
baldwin
baldwin
Proper noun
name; rather rare in English.
Stanley Baldwin, British Prime Minister.
King Baldwin IV, ruler of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem before the takeover of Saladin in 1187. He died in 1185 of complications of the socially unacceptable disease of leprosy. Also known as the leper king.
A town in Florida.
A city in Georgia in the United States.
A village in Illinois.
A city in Iowa.
A town in Louisiana.
A town in Maine.
A village in Michigan
A town and a hamlet in New York.
A township in Ontario, Canada.
A borough in Pennsylvania.
A town and village in Wisconsin.
Noun
A reddish, moderately acid, winter apple.
baldwinsville
baldwinville
baldwyn
balladwise
balladwise
adv
In the style of a ballad.
ballweed
balsamweed
balsamweed
noun
The plant Impatiens balsamina.
balsawood
balsawood
noun
The wood of the balsa tree.
bandsaw
bandsaw
noun
A powered saw whose blade is a continuous band of metal with teeth along one edge.
verb
(transitive) To cut with a bandsaw.
bandsawed
bandsawed
verb
simple past tense of bandsaw
bandsawing
bandsawing
verb
present participle of bandsaw
bandsawn
bandsawn
verb
past participle of bandsaw
bandwagon
bandwagon
noun
(figuratively) A current movement that attracts wide support.
A large wagon used to carry a band of musicians in a parade.
bandwagons
bandwagons
noun
plural of bandwagon
bandwidth
bandwidth
noun
(informal) The capacity, energy or time required.
(networking, informal) The rate of data flow in digital networks typically measured in bits per second; the bitrate.
(of a signal) The width of the smallest frequency band within which the signal can fit.
The width, usually measured in hertz, of a frequency band.
bandwidths
bandwidths
noun
plural of bandwidth
bandwork
bandwork
noun
(art) Decorative work resembling interlaced bands.
bandworm
bandytown
bankweed
bardstown
bardstown
Proper noun
a home rule-class city in Kentucky, USA
bardwell
bartholomewtide
barwood
barwood
noun
The red wood of a leguminous African tree, Baphia nitida, used as a dyewood and for ramrods, violin bows and turner's work.
basementward
basementward
adv
Toward a basement.
bashawdom
basilweed
basilweed
noun
The wild basil, Clinopodium vulgare.
basketwood
basketwood
noun
Any of various kinds of wood traditionally used for making baskets.
basswood
basswood
noun
(US) Any of several trees of the genus Tilia; the lindens, especially Tilia americana, the American basswood.
basswoods
basswoods
noun
plural of basswood
batfowled
battleward
battleward
adv
Toward battle.
bawd
bawd
adj
(obsolete) Joyous; riotously gay.
noun
(now archaic or historical) A person who keeps a house of prostitution, or procures women for prostitution; a procurer, a madame.
A lewd person.
verb
(archaic) To procure women for lewd purposes.
bawdier
bawdier
adj
comparative form of bawdy: more bawdy
bawdies
bawdiest
bawdiest
adj
superlative form of bawdy: most bawdy
bawdily
bawdily
adv
In a bawdy manner; lewdly or obscenely with humorous intent.
bawdiness
bawdiness
noun
A bawdy remark.
The state or characteristic of being bawdy.
bawdinesses
bawdinesses
noun
plural of bawdiness
bawdric
bawdrick
bawdrics
bawdrics
noun
plural of bawdric
bawdries
bawdries
noun
plural of bawdry
bawdry
bawdry
noun
Illicit intercourse; fornication.
Obscenity; filthy, unchaste language.
The practice of procuring women for the gratification of lust.
bawds
bawds
noun
plural of bawd
bawdship
bawdship
noun
The employment or office of a bawd
bawdstrot
bawdy
bawdy
adj
(of language) Sexual in nature and usually meant to be humorous but considered rude.
Obscene; filthy; unchaste.
bawdyhouse
bawdyhouse
noun
Alternative spelling of bawdy-house
bawdyhouses
bawdyhouses
noun
plural of bawdyhouse
bawled
bawled
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bawl
baywood
baywood
noun
The wood of the bay tree.
baywoods
beachward
beachward
Adverb
Towards a beach.
beachwood
beadrow
beadswoman
beadswoman
noun
A female beadsman.
beadswomen
beadswomen
noun
plural of beadswoman
beadwork
beadwork
noun
Decorative work involving beads.
beadworks
beadworks
noun
plural of beadwork
beanweed
beanweed
noun
Scytosiphon lomentaria, a littoral brown filamentous seaweed.
beardstown
bearward
bearward
noun
A keeper of bears.
bearwood
bearwoods
beaverwood
beaverwood
noun
Celtis occidentalis, the common hackberry, a large deciduous tree native to North America.
becoward
becowarded
becowarding
becowards
becrawled
becrawled
verb
simple past tense and past participle of becrawl
bedawee
bedawn
bedeswoman
bedeswoman
noun
Alternative form of beadswoman
bedewoman
bedstraw
bedstraw
noun
(obsolete) straw put into a bed
Any plant of the genus Cruciata.
any plant of herb genus Galium of the madder family with small pointed leaves and hairy stems with small, white or yellow flowers
bedstraws
bedstraws
noun
plural of bedstraw
bedward
bedward
adv
Toward bed.
bedwards
bedwards
adv
Alternative form of bedward
bedwarf
bedwarf
verb
(archaic, transitive) To make a dwarf of; to stunt or hinder the growth of; to dwarf.
bedwarfed
bedwarfed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bedwarf
bedwarfing
bedwarfing
verb
present participle of bedwarf
bedwarfs
bedwarfs
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of bedwarf
bedwarmer
bedwarmer
noun
(historical) A covered metal pan attached to a long handle, holding live coals and used to warm a bed.
bedway
bedways
beggarweed
beggarweed
noun
A type of plant, Desmodium incanum, native to Central and South America.
beggarweeds
beggarweeds
noun
plural of beggarweed
begnawed
begnawed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of begnaw
bendways
bendways
adv
Bendwise.
benward
beshadow
beshadow
verb
(transitive) To cast a shadow around, about, or over; overshadow.
beshadowed
beshadowed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of beshadow
beshadowing
beshadowing
verb
present participle of beshadow
beshadows
beshadows
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of beshadow
beshawled
beshawled
adj
Wearing a shawl.
beswarmed
beswarmed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of beswarm
besweatered
besweatered
Adjective
Wearing a sweater.
betwattled
betwattled
adj
(archaic, West Country) surprised, confounded, befuddled, to be in a distressed state of mind.
verb
(archaic) simple past tense and past participle of betwattle
betweenmaid
bewailed
bewailed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bewail
bewaitered
bewared
bewared
verb
(obsolete) simple past tense and past participle of beware
bewearied
bewizard
bewizard
verb
(transitive) To influence by, or as though by, a wizard or wizardry.
bewrapped
bewrapped
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bewrap
bewrathed
bewrayed
bewrayed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bewray
bezwada
birdwatch
birdwatch
noun
A session of observing and identifying birds.
verb
(intransitive) To take part in birdwatching; to observe and identify birds.
birdwatched
birdwatched
verb
simple past tense and past participle of birdwatch
birdwatches
birdwatches
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of birdwatch
birdwatching
birdwatching
noun
(slang) The hobby of watching rocket launches.
Observing or identifying wild birds in their natural environment.
birdwoman
birdwoman
noun
(informal) a female aviator.
A mythological creature that is part woman and part bird.
A woman who works with birds.
birnamwood
blackweed
blackweed
noun
Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia.)
blackwood
blackwood
noun
(uncountable) The very dark wood of such trees.
African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), of Africa
Australian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), of eastern Australia
Bombay blackwood (Dalbergia latifolia), of India
Haematoxylum campechianum, a tree from Mexico.
bladderweed
bladderwort
bladderwort
noun
Any of many aquatic carnivorous plants, of the genus Utricularia, that have open bladders that trap minute insects and crustaceans.