backwardness

back·ward  (bkwrd)

adj.

1. Directed or facing toward the back or rear.

2. Done or arranged in a manner or order that is opposite to previous occurrence or normal use.

3. Unwilling to act; reluctant; shy.

4. Behind others in progress or development: The technology was backward, but the system worked.

adv. or back·wards (-wrdz)

1. To or toward the back or rear.

2. With the back leading.

3. In a reverse manner or order.

4. To, toward, or into the past.

5. Toward a worse or less advanced condition.

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backward·ly adv.

backward·ness n.

Usage Note: The adverb may be spelled backward or backwards, and these forms are interchangeable: stepped backward; a mirror facing backwards. In Standard English, however, the adjective has no -s: a backward view.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

backwardness - lack of normal development of intellectual capacities mental retardation, subnormality, slowness, retardation stupidity - a poor ability to understand or to profit from experience mental defectiveness, abnormality - retardation sufficient to fall outside the normal range of intelligence mental deficiency, moronity - mild mental retardation amentia, idiocy - extreme mental retardation imbecility - retardation more severe than a moron but not as severe as an idiot

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backwardness

noun

1. lack of development, underdevelopment, lack of sophistication, primitiveness I was astonished at the backwardness of our country at the time.

2. slowness, learning difficulties, underdevelopment, retardation, arrested development her backwardness in practical and physical activities
slowness brightness, quickness, smartness, precocity, precociousness

Translations

backwardness [ˈbækwədnɪs] N [of country] → atraso m; [of person] (socially) → timidez f; (mentally) → retraso m

backwardness [ˈbækwə^rdnɪs] n

[country, society, economy] → arriération f
economic backwardness → arriération économique
technological backwardness → arriération technologique

(old-fashioned or offensive) [child] → retard old-fashioned)m mental >
backward roll n → roulade f arrière

backwardness

n (mental) → Zurückgebliebenheit f; (of region) → Rückständigkeit f

backwardness [ˈbækwədnɪs] n (pej) (of country) → arretratezza