A word spelled or pronounced backward; a word written in reverse of normal order.
From 'back' (Old English) plus 'word' (Old English 'word'). A technical term used in linguistics and wordplay, formalized in the 20th century.
Backwords reveal how flexible language is—'desserts' backwards is 'stressed,' and 'live' backwards is 'evil,' which is why backwords were used in myths and spells as if reversing language could reverse fate.
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