Word: aback
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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...especially important one. My condition is in Greek Grammar; now, I thought that I wrote rather a good paper in that subject, last June (for Greek is my strong point), and was expecting to see "Good in Greek" on my entrance certificate. I was, therefore, much taken aback when I was informed that my paper had not been found, and that I was, consequently, conditioned; I managed to trace the paper into the hands of the examiner, who had evidently lost it, but the Faculty insisted on punishing me for his fault. I should not trespass on your space...
...seats were in the front row, at which he seemed taken a little aback; but he was soon put at his ease by our making him give the story of the Medea at length. He had studied it up, he said, in order to get the full benefit of the play. What a relaxation it would have been to him! But other things were in store...