Part 854

<hw>Back`slide"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp.</tt> <er>Backslid</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p.p.</tt> <er>Backslidden</er> <tt>(?)</tt>, <er>Backslid</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n</tt>. <er>Backsliding</er>. ]</wordforms> <ety>[<ets>Back</ets> , adv.+ <ets>slide</ets>.]</ety> <def>To slide back; to fall away; esp. to abandon gradually the faith and practice of a religion that has been professed.</def>

<h1>Backslider</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw>Back"slid"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who backslides.</def>

<h1>Backsliding</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw>Back"slid"ing</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Slipping back; falling back into sin or error; sinning.</def>

<blockquote>Turn, O <b>backsliding</b> children, saith the Lord. <i>Jer. iii. 14.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Backsliding</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw>Back"slid"ing</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of one who backslides; abandonment of faith or duty.</def>

<blockquote>Our <b>backslidings</b> are many. <i>Jer. xiv. 7.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Backstaff</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw>Back"staff`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed.</def>

<h1>Back stairs</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw>Back" stairs`</hw>. <def>Stairs in the back part of a house, as distinguished from the <i>front stairs</i>; hence, a private or indirect way.</def>

<h1>Backstairs, Backstair</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw><hw>Back"stairs`</hw>, <hw>Back"stair`</hw><hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Private; indirect; secret; intriguing; as if finding access by the back stairs.</def>

<blockquote>A <b>backstairs</b> influence. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Female caprice and <b>backstairs</b> influence. <i>Trevelyan.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Backstay</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw>Back"stay`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Back</ets>, a. or<tt>n.</tt>+ <ets>stay</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>A rope or stay extending from the masthead to the side of a ship, slanting a little aft, to assist the shrouds in supporting the mast.</def> <mark>[ Often used in the plural.]</mark>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A rope or strap used to prevent excessive forward motion.</def>

<h1>Backster</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw>Back"ster</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Baxter</er>.]</ety> <def>A backer.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Backstitch</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw>Back"stitch`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Back</ets>, adv. + <ets>stitch</ets>.]</ety> <def>A stitch made by setting the needle back of the end of the last stitch, and bringing it out in front of the end.</def>

<h1>Backstitch</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw>Back"stitch`</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To sew with backstitches; <as>as, to <ex>backstitch</ex> a seam</as>.</def>

<h1>Backstress</h1> <Xpage=111>

<hw>Back"stress</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A female baker.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>