The spelling of the word "backmost" can be easily explained with IPA phonetic transcription. It is pronounced as /ˈbæk.məʊst/ where the first sound 'b' represents the voiceless bilabial plosive. The 'a' sound is represented by /æ/, which is an open front unrounded vowel sound. The 'k' sound is pronounced as the voiceless velar plosive, represented as /k/. The sound 'm' is represented as /m/ and finally, the 'o' sound is represented as /əʊ/, which is a diphthong sound of open-mid back and open-mid front.
Backmost is an adjective that describes the furthest position or location at the back. It refers to something or someone situated farthest towards the rear or behind. The term is typically used to indicate the extreme end or terminal point of a particular area or sequence that is located towards the back.
In a physical sense, backmost pertains to the rearward position of an object, person, or place. For example, in a row of chairs, the one that is located at the very end, closest to the wall or farthest away from the front, would be considered the backmost chair. Similarly, when referring to a group of people, the individual standing at the rear or last in line would be described as the backmost person.
Furthermore, backmost can also be used metaphorically to describe an abstract concept or idea. For instance, in a list of priorities, the item that holds the least importance or urgency, positioned at the end or tail of the list, would be considered the backmost item.
Overall, backmost is an adjective that conveys the meaning of the furthest position towards the back, whether it be in a physical or metaphorical sense. It is a term used to specify the extreme end, emphasizing the notion of being located at the very back or farthest behind.
The word backmost is formed by combining the root word back and the suffix -most.
The word back dates back to Old English (circa 900 AD) where it was spelled bæc. It comes from the Proto-Germanic word bakam and is related to similar words in other Germanic languages. This word referred to the rear part or side of something.
The suffix -most is also of Old English origin, spelled -mest or -maest at that time. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic -mestaz meaning the most or farthest. It is often used to indicate the furthest point of something in space or time.
Thus, when we combine back and -most, we get backmost meaning furthest back or situated farthest from the front.