Middle English Dictionary Entry
bak adv. (& adj.)
Entry Info
| Forms | bak adv. (& adj.) Comp. bakker. |
| Etymology | From abak (OE on bæc). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of motion or direction: to or toward the rear; away; backward(s; bakker, bakkermore, farther to the rear, farther away.
Associated quotations
- c1390 11 Pains(3) (Vrn)195 : He bad him stonde bac..þat he mihte sustene þat stynk.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)15925 : Petre drogh him bakker mare.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2416 : Fortune gan turne hir face bake Of hiȝe disdeyn fro Troye þe cite.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)103a/a : When þu hast put a cune or wegge within þe mouþ þe more bac.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)104a/a : Dislocacioun of þe cubit..som is to þe ynner partie som forsoþ to þe backer partie or hynder.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)294 : For fere they turned bake and hyede faste.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)323/20 : When he was at mes and sulde lifte..his lyn slevis slafe bakk..his armys war bare.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)474/23 : Sir Launcelot..bare hym backer and backer tylle he cam nye hys towre gate.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)85 : With þat anon I went me bakkermore.
2.
Phrases: ~ stad, set back, badly off; casten ~, reduce; gon ~, regress morally; putten ~, set aside, neglect.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)83/2 : Colde þinges obtunden or casten bach þe scharpnes of þe same vlcus.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)68/13 : Herfore schalt þou not go bac, ne ȝit be ouer ferd of þi faylyng.
- a1425(?a1400) PCounsel.(Hrl 674)162/19 : In þinges contemplatiue..ben alle corious skyles of clergie or of kyndely kunnyng fer put bac.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)9/10 : Bruther abbott, als long as I reseyvid..þe gudis of þi brethers of the, I was euer pure & bakstad; and þou did grete syn att gaff me itt.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)22810 : Þe duk..With his legion he sette..Opon to cum, qwen tide maste nede, Als in bak her fighting to bede.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)p.339 : Gret numbre of folk þar sette iquiles, þe cite with in for to halde, On bakher cum out þai ne sailde..Bihinde he come so on bak here And hard on faght wiȝ swerd and spere.
Note: New phrase: in (on) ~ here, at the rear of an army, in the rearguard.
Note: Quots. belong to sense 1.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.50rb (2.6) : Þo sterres þat ar callede planetes, þat gone in here propre speres euermore agayne the firmament fro the west to þe est..ar callede 'stelle arratice,' or 'stelle retrograde' (anglice: errond sterres or elles bach sterres).
Note: ?New sense. Editor's gloss: bach, adj. 'of planets: retrograde, turning back'.