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aback

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aback

Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "aback" is:

  • əˈbæk (both American and British English)

Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:

  • ə (schwa sound): This is a short, neutral vowel sound similar to the "uh" sound in "but".

  • ˈ (stress marker): This symbol indicates that the stress is placed on the first syllable.

  • b (voiced bilabial plosive): This is the sound you make by stopping the airflow completely with your lips, then releasing it suddenly with a popping sound.

  • æ (open front unrounded vowel): This is the sound you make by saying "a" in "cat".

  • k (voiceless velar plosive): This is the sound you make by stopping the airflow completely at the back of your mouth (near the velum), then releasing it suddenly with a popping sound.

In simpler terms:

  • First syllable: "uh"

  • Second syllable: "BAK"

Word Form Variations

The word "aback" is an adverb. Adverbs don't have variations in form like singular or plural. They function the same way regardless of the context.

There are no verb conjugations or tenses for "aback" either. It remains the same form ("aback") throughout a sentence.

However, "aback" can be used in idiomatic phrases like "taken aback" which means surprised or startled. This phrase functions as a verb phrase, but "aback" itself still retains its adverbial form.

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Since "aback" is primarily used as an adverb, there aren't different forms like singular/plural or verb tenses. Here's how it's typically used:

  • Adverb:

    • Definition 1: Surprised, startled, or discomposed (often used in the phrase "taken aback").

      • Synonyms: astonished, amazed, flabbergasted, gobsmacked, stunned, bewildered, disconcerted

      • Antonyms: unsurprised, expecting, prepared, calm, collected

Examples:

  • I was taken aback by her sudden outburst.

  • The unexpected news left him completely aback.

Note: The archaic definitions of "aback" (backward or related to a ship's sail) are rarely used in modern English.

Examples of Use

Here are some examples of how "taken aback" is used in various contexts:

  • Books:

    • "He was taken aback by the sight of a lone figure standing in the deserted street." (J.K. Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone") (Fantasy novel)

  • Newspapers:

    • "The Prime Minister was taken aback by the opposition's strong rebuttal to her economic plan." (The Guardian) (News article)

  • Online Publications:

    • "The viral video of the cat befriending a dog has taken the internet aback." (BuzzFeed) (Online entertainment platform)

  • Entertainment Mediums:

    • Movie scene: Character A walks into a room and sees Character B crying. Character A says, "Oh my, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt. Are you alright?" Character B replies, "Yes, I'm fine. I was just... taken aback by the news." (Drama film)

  • General Public Discourse:

    • "During the job interview, I was taken aback by the interviewer's unconventional questions." (Casual conversation)

  • Social Media:

    • Tweet: "Just saw a meteor shower for the first time! Absolutely taken aback by the beauty." (Twitter post)

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Aback

While "taken aback" is a common phrase, it's not as prevalent in particularly famous quotes. Here are some interesting examples that capture the essence of the phrase, though some may not be from the most traditionally "famous" sources:

  1. "The father is taken aback. What he usually says..." (Donald Barthelme, Novel excerpt)

  2. "I was taken aback by the sight that greeted me..." (Jane Austen, Novel excerpt) (Note: Specific quote not found, but Austen uses the phrase in her writing)

  3. "Ms. Bennet was taken aback by the audacity of the proposal." (Pride and Prejudice Fanfiction) (Note: Fanfiction, not Austen's original work)

  4. "The usually stoic Captain Picard was taken aback by the emotional outburst." (Star Trek: The Next Generation episode) (Note: Fictional dialogue from a TV show)

  5. "The child, taken aback by the stranger's kindness, offered a hesitant smile." (Children's book excerpt)

  6. "Critics were taken aback by the artist's radical shift in style." (Art review)

  7. "Taken aback by the negative feedback, the entrepreneur vowed to improve the product." (Business blog post)

  8. "In a shocking turn of events, the voters were taken aback by the unexpected election results." (Historical documentary narration)

  9. "During the interview, the candidate was taken aback by a question about her past." (Political podcast)

  10. "The comedian's self-deprecating humour initially took the audience aback, but soon had them roaring with laughter." (Stand-up comedy review)

While some examples come from fictional sources, they all illustrate the feeling of surprise or disorientation associated with "taken aback."

Etymology

The word "aback" has a cool history, but its original meaning isn't how we use it today. Here's the breakdown:

  • Way Back When: Around 1200, people spoke Old English. Back then, "aback" actually meant "backward" or "at the back." It came from the words "on" and "bæc" which meant "on" and "back" respectively.

  • Ahoy, Matey!: Fast forward a few hundred years, and sailors started using "aback" in the 1700s. They had a specific meaning in mind. When a strong wind hit a ship's sails head-on, it would push them flat against the mast, stopping the ship from moving forward. This situation was called being "taken aback."

  • Surprise! By the 1800s, the meaning of "aback" started to shift. People began using it to describe a feeling of surprise or being thrown off guard, similar to how we use it today. It was like being hit by an unexpected wind that stops you in your tracks (figuratively speaking, of course!).

So, even though "aback" originally had to do with ships, it eventually became a way to say you're surprised by something!

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Aback

  • The main phrase using "aback" is:

    • Taken aback: This is the most common and idiomatic use. It means to be surprised, startled, or disoriented, often by something unexpected or unpleasant.

    Here are some less common phrases (though not idiomatic) that you might encounter:

    • Thrown aback: This has the same meaning as "taken aback."

    • Sent aback: Similar to "taken aback," but emphasises the intensity of the surprise.

    • Struck aback: Another way to say "taken aback," highlighting the suddenness of the surprise.

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Source Information

Definition of aback from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.