underbæc

Old English edit

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /ˌun.derˈbæk/

Adverb edit

underbæc

backwards, back
- c. 992, Ælfric, "The First Sunday in Lent"
  Crist cwæþ þā tō þām Dēofle, "Gā þū underbæc, sċocca!"
  Then Christ said to the Devil, "Get back, Satan!"
- late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Genesis 19:26
  Þā beseah Lothes wīf underbæc and wearþ sōna āwendu tō ānum sealtstāne.
  Then Lot's wife looked back and was instantly turned into a pillar of salt.
- late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Genesis 9:23
  Hwæt þā Sēm and Iapheth dydon ānne hwītel on heora sċuldran and ēodon underbæc.
  So then Shem and Japheth put a blanket on their shoulders and walked backwards.
- c. 1000, unknown author, Vercelli Homily XIX
  God onsende miċelne reġn and strangne wind and grimme ȳst on þā sǣ, swā þæt þæt sċip ne meahte nāwðer swimman ne forþ ne underbæc.
  God sent a heavy rain and strong wind and violent storm to the sea, so that the ship couldn’t sail either forwards or backwards.
- late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Joshua 8:20
  Sēo burgwaru þā beseah underbæc sōna and ġeseah þone smīec swīðe hēage āstīgan, and ne mihte þanon flēon ne forþ ne underbæc.
  The people of the city looked back immediately and saw the smoke rising high, and couldn't flee either forwards or backwards.
- c. 990, Wessex Gospels, John 18:4-6
  Sē Hǣlend ēode þā forþ and cwæþ tō him, "Hwone sēċaþ ġē?" Hīe andswarodon him and cwǣdon, "Þone Nāzareniscan Hǣlend." Sē Hǣlend cwæþ, "Iċ hit eom." Sōðlīċe Iūdās, þe hine belǣwde, stōd mid him. Þā hē openlīċe sæġde "Iċ hit eom," þā ēodon hīe underbæc and fēollon on þā eorðan.
  Jesus stepped forward and asked them, "Who are you looking for?" They answered him and said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said, "That's me." Judas, who had betrayed him, was standing with them. When he openly said "That's me," they stepped back and fell to the ground.

Synonyms edit

onbæc