Part 299

Re"tro*cede, v. i. [L. retrocedere; retro backward, back + cedere to go. See Cede.] To go back.

Re`tro*ced"ent (?), a. [L. retrocedens, p. pr.] Disposed or likely to retrocede; -- said of diseases which go from one part of the body to another, as the gout.

Re`tro*ces"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. rétrocession. See Retrocede.] 1. The act of retroceding.

2. The state of being retroceded, or granted back.

3. (Med.) Metastasis of an eruption or a tumor from the surface to the interior of the body.

Re"tro*choir (?), n. [Pref. retro- + choir.] (Eccl. Arch.) Any extension of a church behind the high altar, as a chapel; also, in an apsidal church, all the space beyond the line of the back or eastern face of the altar.

Re`tro*cop"u*lant (?), a. [See Retrocopulation.] Copulating backward, or from behind.

Re`tro*cop`u*la"tion (?), n. [Pref. retro- + copulation.] Copulation from behind. Sir T. Browne.

Re`tro*duc"tion (?), n. [L. retroducere, retroductum, to lead or bring back; retro backward + ducere to lead.] A leading or bringing back.

{ Re"tro*flex (?), Re"tro*flexed (?), } a. [Pref. retro- + L. flectere, flexum, to bend, to turn.] Reflexed; bent or turned abruptly backward.

Re`tro*flex"ion (?), n. The act of reflexing; the state of being retroflexed. Cf. Retroversion.

{ Re"tro*fract (?), Re"tro*fract`ed, } a. [Pref. retro- + L. fractus, p. p. of frangere to break.] (Bot.) Refracted; as, a retrofract stem.

Re`tro*gen"er*a*tive (?), a. [Pref. retro- + generative.] Begetting young by retrocopulation.

Re`tro*gra*da"tion (?), n. [F. rétrogradation or L. retrogradatio. See Retrograde.] 1. The act of retrograding, or moving backward.

2. The state of being retrograde; decline.

Re"tro*grade (?), a. [L. retrogradus, from retrogradi, retrogressus, to retrograde; retro back + gradi to step: cf. F. rétrograde. See Grade.] 1. (Astron.) Apparently moving backward, and contrary to the succession of the signs, that is, from east to west, as a planet. Hutton.

And if he be in the west side in that condition, then is he retrograde.

Chaucer.

2. Tending or moving backward; having a backward course; contrary; as, a retrograde motion; -- opposed to progressive. "Progressive and not retrograde." Bacon.

It is most retrograde to our desire.

Shak.

3. Declining from a better to a worse state; as, a retrograde people; retrograde ideas, morals, etc. Bacon.

Re"tro*grade, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Retrograded (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Retrograding.] [L. retrogradare, retrogradi: cf. F. rétrograder.] 1. To go in a retrograde direction; to move, or appear to move, backward, as a planet.

2. Hence, to decline from a better to a worse condition, as in morals or intelligence.

Re"tro*gra`ding*ly (?), adv. By retrograding; so as to retrograde.

Re"tro*gress (?), n. [Cf. L. retrogressus.] Retrogression. [R.] H. Spenser.

Re`tro*gres"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. rétrogression. See Retrograde, and cf. Digression.] 1. The act of retrograding, or going backward; retrogradation.

2. (Biol.) Backward development; a passing from a higher to a lower state of organization or structure, as when an animal, approaching maturity, becomes less highly organized than would be expected from its earlier stages or known relationship. Called also retrograde development, and regressive metamorphism.