BEHIND


Meaning of BEHIND in English

I. bi-ˈhīnd, bē- adverb or adjective

Etymology: Middle English behinde, from Old English behindan, from be- + hindan from behind; akin to Old English hinder behind — more at hind

Date: before 12th century

1.

a. : in the place or situation that is being or has been departed from

stay behind

b. : in, to, or toward the back

look behind

came from behind

c. : later in time

can spring be far behind

2.

a. : in a secondary or inferior position

b. : in arrears

behind in the rent

c. : slow

3. archaic : still to come

II. preposition

Date: before 12th century

1.

a. : in or to a place or situation in back of or to the rear of

look behind you

put behind bars

b. — used as a function word to indicate something that screens an observer

the sun went behind a cloud

c. : following in order

marched behind the band

2. — used as a function word to indicate backwardness, delay, or deficiency

behind the times

behind schedule

lagged behind last year's sales

3.

a. : in the background of

the conditions behind the strike

b. : out of the mind or consideration of

put our troubles behind us

c. : beyond in depth or time

the story behind the story

go back behind St. Augustine

4.

a. : in support of : on the side of

solidly behind the candidate

b. : with the support of

won 1-0 behind brilliant pitching

III. ˈbē-ˌhīnd; bi-ˈhīnd, bē- noun

Etymology: behind (I)

Date: circa 1830

: buttocks — often used as a euphemism for ass in idiomatic expressions

get your behind over here

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.