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

• retrogression
  noun
• retrogressive
  adjective
• retrogressively
  adverb

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

See Examples For:

retrogress

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

We don't stand still or retrogress; we keep going on and up.

From The Drums of Jeopardy by MacGrath, Harold

What had caused the man to retrogress Luis and Luise Obispo?

From Forget Me Nearly by Wallace, F. L. (Floyd L.)

It may after a time remain stationary, or, in rare instances, retrogress; as a rule, however, it is progressive.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Stelwagon, Henry Weightman