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Added 8 October 2026

abaft

/əˈbɑːft/ preposition

preposition Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about abaft at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Behind; toward the stern relative to some other object or position; aft of. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
The captain stood abaft the wheelhouse.

adverb

On the aft side; in the stern.
We drifted with the wind abaft.
Backwards.

Origin

From Middle English obaft, baft, baften, from Old English beæftan; be (“by”) (modern English by) + æftan (“behind”) (modern English after). See also aft.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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