Backwardly

/ˈbækwərdli/ adverb

Definition

In a backward direction or manner; with the back forward; in a reluctant or hesitant way.

Etymology

From 'backward' (Old English bæc + weard) + '-ly' (Old English adverbial suffix). Standard adverb formation from the adjective.

Kelly Says

The word 'backwardly' rarely appears in modern English because we've largely abandoned it in favor of 'backward' itself as an adverb—it's a casualty of English's tendency to simplify, losing grammatical precision for efficiency.

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