backchain
|back-chain|
/ˈbæk.tʃeɪn/
build from the end; work backward
Etymology
'backchain' originates from Modern English, specifically the elements 'back' and 'chain', where 'back' (Old English 'bæc') meant 'rear' and 'chain' (from Old French 'chaine', from Latin 'catena') meant 'a series or linked elements'.
'backchain' developed from the older phrase 'backward chaining' (used in logic and AI in the mid-20th century) and from pedagogical practice 'back-chaining'; over time the compound shortened and verbs/nouns like 'backchain' and 'backchaining' appeared in technical and teaching contexts.
Initially it referred primarily to the logic/AI method of chaining backward from goals; over time the term was also applied to language-teaching practice and more general senses of 'building from the end' or 'working backward'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the method or process of backchaining (either as a teaching technique or an inference procedure).
Backchain is a useful technique in pronunciation teaching and in some inference engines.
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Verb 1
to teach or practice a word, phrase, or sequence by starting from the end and gradually adding preceding parts (a language-teaching technique).
Teachers often backchain difficult words to help learners master pronunciation.
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Verb 2
to perform backward chaining in logical inference or rule-based systems: work backward from a goal to find supporting facts or premises.
The expert system will backchain from the goal to identify which rules apply.
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Last updated: 2025/12/25 19:16