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Examples
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This sage explanation had great weight with our noble commander, who exclaimed, “What have you to say to this, Taffy? yon seem to be taken all a-back, brother, ha!”
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But I'd be a-back on the job working; I never did go off nowhere.
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In the midst of these pleasing reveries, I was aroused by the ship being taken a-back, the watch being completely intoxicated, and it was only with difficulty that they could do their duty.
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But it fell out much worse for him, for we were so fortunate as to kill the man at the helm, so that his ship ran into the wind and her sails lay "a-back" as the mariners say.
Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 8 Charles Herbert Sylvester
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“I think she was just took a-back, madam, finding the little girl dead.”
St Peter's Finger Mitchell, Gladys, 1901-1983 1938
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I was thot took a-back I near died o 'fright, an' fine I knew ut then, the shakun '
Samuel 1914
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The third, that gaed a wee a-back, [went a little]
Robert Burns How To Know Him William Allan Neilson 1907
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And therewith he put them a-back, and slew much people.
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"So he informed me over the 'phone this morning," said he, rather taken a-back.
The Hollow of Her Hand George Barr McCutcheon 1897
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"Thou'rt getting too fine to travel pack a-back amongst us simple country folk."
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