Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1100-1200
Language: Old English
Origin: on bæc 'backward'

aback

 adverb
     
a‧back

be taken aback (by something)

to be very surprised or shocked by something:
For a moment, I was completely taken aback by her request.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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