relapse

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: re=lapse

CIDE DICTIONARY

relapse, v. i. [L. relapsus, p. p. of relabi to slip back, to relapse; pref. re- re- + labi to fall, slip, slide. See Lapse.].

•  To slip or slide back, in a literal sense; to turn back.  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]
•  To slide or turn back into a former state or practice; to fall back from some condition attained; -- generally in a bad sense, as from a state of convalescence or amended condition; as, to relapse into a stupor, into vice, or into barbarism; -- sometimes in a good sense; as, to relapse into slumber after being disturbed.  [1913 Webster]

  "That task performed, [preachers] relapse into themselves."  [1913 Webster]
•  To fall from Christian faith into paganism, heresy, or unbelief; to backslide.  [1913 Webster]

  "They enter into the justified state, and so continue all along, unless they relapse."  [1913 Webster]

relapse, n. [For sense 2 cf. F. relaps. See Relapse, v.].

•  A sliding or falling back, especially into a former bad state, either of body or morals; backsliding; the state of having fallen back.  [1913 Webster]

  "Alas! from what high hope to what relapse
  Unlooked for are we fallen!"  [1913 Webster]
•  One who has relapsed, or fallen back, into error; a backslider; specifically, one who, after recanting error, returns to it again.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

relapse, v. & n.
--v.intr. (usu. foll. by into) fall back or sink again (into a worse state after an improvement).
--n. also the act or an instance of relapsing, esp. a deterioration in a patient's condition after a partial recovery.

Idiom

relapsing fever a bacterial infectious disease with recurrent periods of fever.

Derivative

relapser n.

Etymology

L relabi relaps- (as RE-, labi slip)

THESAURUS

relapse

about-face, apostasy, backing, backset, backslide, backsliding, backward motion, backward step, cock, decline, degenerate, degeneration, deteriorate, deterioration, disenchantment, disimprove, fade, fading, fail, failing, failure, fall, fall again into, fall astern, fall back, fall behind, fall from grace, falling back, flip-flop, get back, get behind, get worse, go back, go backwards, go behind, grow worse, have a relapse, jerk back, lapse, lapse back, lapsing, let down, lose ground, pull back, reaction, recede, recession, recidivate, recidivation, recidivism, reclamation, reconversion, recur to, reentry, refluence, reflux, regress, regressing, regression, rehabilitation, reinstatement, restitution, restoration, retreat, retroaction, retrocede, retrocession, retroflex, retroflexion, retrogradation, retrograde, retrogress, retrogression, retroversion, retrovert, retrusion, return, return to, returning, reversal, reverse, reversion, revert, revert to, reverting, revulsion, rollback, setback, sicken, sink, sink back, sinking, slacken, slide back, slip back, slipping back, sternway, throwback, turn, turnabout, weaken, weakening, worsen, worsening, yield again to

ROGET THESAURUS

relapse

Relapse

N relapse, lapse, falling back, retrogradation, deterioration, backsliding, recidivation, recidivism, recidivity, recrudescence.

VB relapse, lapse, fall back, slide back, sink back, return, retrograde, recidivate, fall off again.

Reversion

N reversion, return, revulsion, turning point, turn of the tide, status quo ante bellum, calm before a storm, alternation, inversion, recoil, retreat, regression, retrogression, restoration, relapse, recidivism, atavism, vicinism, reverting, regressive, revulsive, reactionary, retrorse, a rebours.

VB revert, turn back, regress, relapse, recoil, retreat, restore, undo, unmake, turn the tide, roll back the tide, turn the scale, tip the scale.

Regression

N regress, regression, retrocession, retrogression, retrograduation, retroaction, reculade, retreat, withdrawal, retirement, remigration, recession, recess, crab-like motion, refluence, reflux, backwater, regurgitation, ebb, return, resilience reflection, reflexion (recoil), flip-flop, volte-face, counter motion, retrograde motion, backward movement, motion in reverse, counter movement, counter march, veering, tergiversation, recidivation, backsliding, fall, deterioration, recidivism, recidivity, reversal, relapse, turning point, receding, retrograde, retrogressive, regressive, refluent, reflex, recidivous, resilient, crab-like, balky, reactionary, back, backwards, reflexively, to the right about, a reculons, a rebours, revenons a nos moutons, as you were.