retrograde

The definition of retrograde is something that is a move backwards or a decline in condition or quality.

(adjective)

When a new technology comes out that is actually a step backward and worse than the technology before it, this is an example of something that would be described as retrograde.

Retrograde is to move backwards, or to decline to a prior worse condition.

(verb)

If you had begun to feel better but then your condition worsens to where it was a few weeks ago, this is an example of when it retrogrades.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See retrograde in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. moving or directed backward; retiring or retreating
  2. inverse or reverse: said of order
  3. going back or tending to go back to an earlier, esp. worse, condition; retrogressive
  4. Obsolete opposed; contrary
    1. Astron. moving in an orbit opposite to the usual orbital direction of similar celestial bodies, as opposite to the direction of the earth in its journey around the sun
    2. Astrol. designating motion, real or apparent, on the celestial sphere in a direction from east to west
  5. Music designating motion backward in a melody, specif. so as to begin with the last note and end with the first

Origin: ME < L retrogradus < retrogradi, to go backward: see retro- & grade

intransitive verb retrograded, retrograding

  1. to go, or seem to go, backward
  2. to become worse; decline; deteriorate; degenerate
  3. Astron. to have a retrograde motion

Origin: L retrogradi

Related Forms:

See retrograde in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Moving or tending backward.
  2. Opposite to the usual order; inverted or reversed.
  3. Reverting to an earlier or inferior condition.
  4. Astronomy
    a. Of or relating to the orbital revolution or axial rotation of a planetary or other celestial body that moves clockwise from east to west, in the direction opposite to most celestial bodies.
    b. Of or relating to the brief, regularly occurring, apparently backward movement of a planetary body in its orbit as viewed against the fixed stars, caused by the differing orbital velocities of Earth and the body observed.
  5. Archaic Opposed; contrary.
intransitive verb ret·ro·grad·ed, ret·ro·grad·ing, ret·ro·grades
  1. To move or seem to move backward. See Synonyms at recede1.
  2. To decline to an inferior state; degenerate.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Latin retrōgradus

Origin: , from retrōgradī, to go back

Origin: : retrō-, retro-

Origin: + -gradus, walking (from gradī, to go; see ghredh- in Indo-European roots)

.

Related Forms:

  • retˌro·gra·daˈtion (-rō-grā-dāˈshən) noun
  • retˈro·gradeˌly adverb

Learn more about retrograde

link/cite print suggestion box