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Aback vs Suddenly - What's the difference?

aback | suddenly |

As adverbs the difference between aback and suddenly

is that aback is (archaic) towards the back or rear; backwards while suddenly is happening quickly and with little or no warning; in a sudden manner.

As a noun aback

is (obsolete) an abacus.

aback

English

Etymology 1

* From (etyl) . * . Compare West Frisian .

Adverb

(-)
  • (archaic) Towards the back or rear; backwards.
  • * (rfdate),
  • Therewith aback she started.
  • (archaic) In the rear; a distance behind.
  • (Knolles)
  • By surprise; startled; dumbfounded.
  • (nautical) Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way.
  • By setting the foresail aback and the headsail in the middle one can bring a fore-and-aft rigged sailing boat practically to a halt even in heavy wind.
    (Totten)
    Usage notes
    * (by surprise) Preceded by a form of the word take .

    See also

    *

    Etymology 2

    From abacus.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An abacus.
  • (Ben Jonson)

    References

    suddenly

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Happening quickly and with little or no warning; in a sudden manner.
  • Suddenly , the heavens opened and we all got drenched.
  • * '>citation
  • Synonyms

    * all of a sudden * without warning

    Antonyms

    * unsuddenly

    Statistics

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