Back \Back\ (b[a^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Backed} (b[a^]kt); p.
pr. & vb. n. {Backing}.]
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1. To get upon the back of; to mount.
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I will back him [a horse] straight. --Shak.
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2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.]
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Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed,
Appeared to me. --Shak.
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3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede;
as, to back oxen.
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4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back
books.
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5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
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A garden . . . with a vineyard backed. --Shak.
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The chalk cliffs which back the beach. --Huxley.
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6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to
indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
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7. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or
influence; as, to back a friend. "The Parliament would be
backed by the people." --Macaulay.
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Have still found it necessary to back and fortify
their laws with rewards and punishments. --South.
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The mate backed the captain manfully. --Blackw. Mag.
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8. To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse.
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{To back an anchor} (Naut.), to lay down a small anchor ahead
of a large one, the cable of the small one being fastened
to the crown of the large one.
{To back the field}, in horse racing, to bet against a
particular horse or horses, that some one of all the other
horses, collectively designated "the field", will win.
{To back the oars}, to row backward with the oars.
{To back a rope}, to put on a preventer.
{To back the sails}, to arrange them so as to cause the ship
to move astern.
{To back up}, to support; to sustain; as, to back up one's
friends.
{To back a warrant} (Law), is for a justice of the peace, in
the county where the warrant is to be executed, to sign or
indorse a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend
an offender.
{To back water} (Naut.), to reverse the action of the oars,
paddles, or propeller, so as to force the boat or ship
backward.
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