about vs rearward

about

adv
  • Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down. 

  • To the opposite tack: see go about. 

  • Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity. 

  • Near; in the vicinity. 

  • From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity. 

  • Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost. 

  • On all sides; around. 

  • To a reversed order; half round; facing in the opposite direction; from a contrary point of view. 

prep
  • Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect. 

  • In or near, as in mental faculties or (literally) in the possession of; under the control of; at one's command; in one's makeup. 

  • In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of. 

  • Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place. 

  • Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout. 

  • See about to. 

  • On one's person; nearby the person. 

  • Have you much hay about? = Have you much in the process of making? 

  • Concerned with; engaged in; intent on. 

adj
  • Moving around; astir. 

  • In existence; being in evidence; apparent. 

  • Near; in the vicinity or neighbourhood. 

rearward

adv
  • Toward the back or rear of something. 

noun
  • The last troop; the rear of an army; a rear guard. 

  • The part that comes last or is situated in the rear; conclusion, wind-up. 

adj
  • Toward the back or rear of something. 

How often have the words about and rearward occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )