retrogress

American  

[re-truh-gres, re-truh-gres] / ˌrɛ trəˈgrɛs, ˈrɛ trəˌgrɛs /

verb (used without object)

1. to go backward into an earlier and usually worse condition.

   to retrogress to infantilism.

   Synonyms:

   revert, retreat, withdraw, retrograde, degenerate, decline

2. to move backward.

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retrogress British  

/ ˌrɛtrəʊˈɡrɛs /

verb

1. to go back to an earlier, esp worse, condition; degenerate or deteriorate

2. to move backwards; recede

3. biology to develop characteristics or features of lower or simpler organisms; degenerate

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• retrogressively
  adverb
• retrogression
  noun
• retrogressive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of retrogress

First recorded in 1810–20; from Latin retrōgressus, past participle of retrōgradī “to go back or backward,” equivalent to retrō- “back, backward, behind” + gred-, combining form of gradī “to step, go” + -tus past participle suffix, with dt becoming ss; see retro-

Example Sentences

Sir: Premarital Murdock flagrantly contradicts his own anthropology and science when he advocates that we should retrogress thousands of years into the primitive "gland-motivated" society.

From Time Magazine Archive

Not to struggle is to retrogress, to collapse, to go revisionist.

From Time Magazine Archive

Would I could retrogress over the devious and enchanting itinerary.

From Shandygaff by Morley, Christopher

But, as a matter of fact, there are species which are arrested; there are some that retrogress.

From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur

But it must be a slow, and occasionally an interrupted progress, after a sad retrogress of nearly twelve years.'

From The Opium Habit by Day, Horace B.