relapse Hear it!

relapse Definition

re·lapse (ri laps′; also, and for n. usually, rē′laps)

intransitive verb -·lapsed′, -·laps′·ing

to slip or fall back into a former condition, esp. after improvement or seeming improvement; specif.,

  1. to fall back into illness
  2. to fall back into bad habits, wrongdoing, etc.; backslide

Etymology: < L relapsus, pp. of relabi, to slip or slide back: see re- & lapse

noun

  1. the act or an instance of relapsing
  2. the recurrence of a disease after apparent improvement

relapse Related Forms

re·laps′er noun

relapse Synonyms

relapse

n.

reversion, recidivism, backsliding, regression, recurrence, decline, deterioration, reverse, reversal, setback; see also decay 1, loss 3.

relapse Synonyms

relapse

v.

lapse, retrogress, fall, backslide, become a backslider, revert, regress, suffer a relapse, deteriorate, degenerate, retrovert, fall from grace, fall back, fall off, weaken, sink back, fall into again, slide back, slip back, be overcome, succumb, give in to again.

relapse Usage Examples

Object

  • leukemia: A lung carcinoma or an infiltrate of residual or relapsing chronic myelogenous leukemia in the lung could be definitely ruled out.
  • lymphoma: PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pentostatin was administered to 28 patients who had relapsed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or peripheral T-cell lymphoma with prominent cutaneous disease.
  • sclerosis: Rebif is indicated for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis.
  • fever: A period of 2 years should be allowed after recovery from relapsing fever.
  • Ms: Some textbooks refer to this sub type as relapsing progressive MS.

Converse of object

  • prevent: This suggests that Prozac does not help to prevent relapse in anorexia.
  • suffer: She is ordered to stay at home for three months, lest she suffer a relapse.
  • trigger: Stress - Does it cause MS or trigger a relapse?
  • predict: It was hypothesized that occurrence of these symptoms would increase on stopping smoking would predict relapses to smoking.

Preposition: into

  • barbarism: The alternative to it is the relapse into barbarism.
  • silence: Just state your bill and relapse into impenetrable silence for ever and ever on these premises.

Adjective modifier

  • depressive: An information-processing analysis is presented of mindfulness and mindlessness, and of their relevance to preventing depressive relapse.
  • ms: The symptoms of PML may be similar to an MS relapse.
  • isolated: The only patient with isolated brain relapse died within 7 months, despite combined treatment.
  • frequent: Although he suffered frequent relapses throughout his life, he always fought back & enjoyed life to the full.

Modifies a noun

  • prevention: Whenever you feel you're about to slip back into old habits, you can always consult your relapse prevention plan.
  • rate: The annual relapse rate was 0.5 in both groups.

Preposition: after

chemotherapy: When tumors acquire multi-drug resistance, become refractory and cause relapse after first-line chemotherapy, their responses to routine drugs are greatly compromised.

Present participle complement

remit: More Information Prof Alan Thompson, MS Society Medical advisor, talks about relapsing remitting MS.

Preposition: in

sclerosis: Rate of pregnancy related relapse in multiple sclerosis.