behindhand
adjective, adverb
Forms behind-hand
- adjective (archaic, of a person) Late, tardy, overdue, behind (in accomplishing a task, etc.).
- adjective (archaic, of a task or the object of a task) Not at the expected point of completion.
- adjective (archaic) Behind (someone or something moving, a trend, etc.), lagging behind, not keeping up.
- adjective (archaic) Behind in paying a debt; in arrears.
- adjective (archaic) Not having enough of, lacking (in something).
- adjective (dated) Inferior, less advanced (compared with someone in something).
- adverb (archaic) Belatedly, tardily.
- adverb (archaic) In debt, or in arrears.
Synonyms
Etymology
From behind + hand.
Webster’s 1913
- adverb In arrears financially; in a state where expenditures have exceeded the receipt of funds.
- adverb In a state of backwardness, in respect to what is seasonable or appropriate, or as to what should have been accomplished; not equally forward with some other person or thing; dilatory; backward; late; tardy; as, behindhand in studies or in work.
Etymology [Behind + hand.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “behindhand”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details