Part 852

<blockquote>A husband somewhere in the <b>background</b>. <i>Thackeray.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Backhand</h1> <Xpage=110>

<hw>Back"hand`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Back</ets>, adv. + <ets>hand</ets>.]</ety> <def>A kind of handwriting in which the downward slope of the letters is from left to right.</def>

<h1>Backhand</h1> <Xpage=110>

<hw>Back"hand`</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Sloping from left to right; -- said of handwriting.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Backhanded; indirect; oblique.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Backhanded</h1> <Xpage=110>

<hw>Back"hand`ed</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>With the hand turned backward; <as>as, a <ex>backhanded</ex> blow</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Indirect; awkward; insincere; sarcastic; <as>as, a <ex>backhanded</ex> compliment</as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Turned back, or inclining to the left; <as>as, a <ex>backhanded</ex> letters</as>.</def>

<h1>Backhandedness</h1> <Xpage=110>

<hw>Back"hand`ed*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>State of being backhanded; the using of backhanded or indirect methods.</def>

<h1>Backhander</h1> <Xpage=110>

<hw>Back"hand`er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A backhanded blow.</def>

<h1>Backhouse</h1> <Xpage=110>

<hw>Back"house`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Back</ets>, a. + <ets>house</ets>.]</ety> <def>A building behind the main building. Specifically: A privy; a necessary.</def>

<h1>Backing</h1> <Xpage=110>

<hw>Back"ing</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of moving backward, or of putting or moving anything backward.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which is behind, and forms the back of, anything, usually giving strength or stability.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Support or aid given to a person or cause.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Bookbinding)</fld> <def>The preparation of the back of a book with glue, etc., before putting on the cover.</def>

<h1>Backjoint</h1> <Xpage=110>

<hw>Back"joint`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Back</ets> , a. or adv. + <ets>joint</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>A rebate or chase in masonry left to receive a permanent slab or other filling.</def>

<h1>Backlash</h1> <Xpage=110>

<hw>Back"lash`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Back</ets> , adv. + <ets>lash</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Mech.)</fld> <def>The distance through which one part of connected machinery, as a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, resulting from looseness in fitting or from wear; also, the jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion.</def>

<h1>Backless</h1> <Xpage=110>

<hw>Back"less</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Without a back.</def>

<h1>Backlog</h1> <Xpage=110>