rear-to-front
|rear-to-front|
🇺🇸
/rɪr tə frʌnt/
🇬🇧
/rɪə tə frʌnt/
back-to-front / reversed orientation
Etymology
'rear-to-front' is a modern English compound formed from the words 'rear', 'to', and 'front'.
'rear' comes from Middle English 'rere' (meaning 'the back, hind part') and 'front' comes via Old French 'front' from Latin 'frons' (forehead); the connector 'to' is from Old English 'tō'. These elements were combined in modern English to form the descriptive compound 'rear-to-front'.
Originally a literal description meaning 'from the rear toward the front'; it is now used both literally and figuratively to mean 'in reverse order' or 'back-to-front'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
arranged or oriented with the rear toward the front; back-to-front; reversed in order or orientation.
He put the jacket on rear-to-front and didn't notice until later.
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Antonyms
Adverb 1
from the rear toward the front; in a movement or arrangement that goes from back to front.
They loaded the crates rear-to-front to make room near the door.
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Last updated: 2026/01/09 22:05