[rear.ward] n [ME rerewarde, fr. AF; akin to OF reregarde rear guard] (14c): rear; esp: the rear division (as of an army)
[2]rear.ward adj [
[2]rear + -ward] (1598) 1: located at, near, or toward the rear
2: directed toward the rear [3]rear.ward also rear.wards adv (1625): at, near, or toward the rear: backward