abaft has definitions from the field of nautical
1
[ pronoun ] preposition, to the rear of

Synonyms

behind

Examples

"He went behind a bush."

2
[ pronoun ] preposition, on the other side, temporally or spacially

Synonyms

after behind

Examples

"He went behind the store." "After dawn the birds start to sing." "She went out after me."

3
[ adverb ] (nautical) at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane

Synonyms

aft astern

Examples

"stow the luggage aft" "ships with square sails sail fairly efficiently with the wind abaft" "the captain looked astern to see what the fuss was about"

Related terms

fore

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