behind English · revision 3650

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Old English behindan)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɪˈhaɪnd/, /bəˈhaɪnd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|bihinde]] (also [[m|enm|behinde]]), [[inh|ang|behindan|t=at the back of, after]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) a compound, [[af|ang|bi|hindan|t1=by|t2=from behind]].^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004)^(SOED 2002) It matches [[osx|bihindan]], and is related to [[de|hinten|t=behind]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) and to English [[hind]], [[hinder]] and [[hindmost]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ At the back of, after: Old English ''behindan'', about 725, in a version of ''Exodus''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The preposition already existed in Old English.^(Etymonline) The figurative sense “not so far advanced” is from about 1200,^(Etymonline) and ''behind someone's back'', “secretly”, from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) ''Behindhand'' was formed in the 16th century after ''beforehand''.^(Hoad 1986) A clock running slow has been ''behind'' since 1604.^(HTOED) ''Behind the scenes'' comes from the theatre in 1711 and was used figuratively by 1779.^(Etymonline) ''Behind the times'' is from 1826.^(Etymonline) The noun, a euphemism for the buttocks, is from 1786.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''behindan''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – not so far advanced.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – ''behind someone's back''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 16th century – ''behindhand''.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1604 – of a clock, slow.^(HTOED)

+ * 1711 – ''behind the scenes''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1786 – noun, the buttocks.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1826 – ''behind the times''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # At the back of; in the rear of.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # On the far side of; beyond.^(AHD)

+ # Later than; less advanced than: ''behind schedule''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Hidden by; underlying: ''the reason behind it''.^(AHD)

+ # In support of: ''we're behind you''.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In, to or toward the rear.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # In a place that has been left: ''stay behind''.^(AHD)

+ # Late; in arrears.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' The [[buttocks]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[behind-the-scenes]]

+ * [[behindhand]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hind]]

+ * [[hinder]]

+ * [[hindmost]]

+ * [[before]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}