I. ˈre.trəˌgrād sometimes ˈrē.t- adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin retrogradus, from retro- + gradus step — more at grade
1.
a. of a celestial body : having a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies : exhibiting regression
b. : moving, directed, or tending in a backward direction : contrary to the previous direction : retreating
fight a retrograde action — A.E.Younger
a retrograde step
retrograde telescope
c.
(1) : contrary to the normal order : inverse , inverted
a retrograde order of enumeration
(2) : repeated backward
a retrograde melody in a contrapuntal composition
retrograde imitation
2. : tending towards or resulting in a worse state
a retrograde people
retrograde ideas
a retrograde measure
3. archaic : opposed , contradictory
it is most retrograde to our desires — Shakespeare
4. : characterized by retrogression
5. : affecting memories of a period immediately prior to a shock or seizure
retrograde amnesia
II. noun
1. : one that degenerates
2. : retrogression
III. adverb
: backward , reversely
IV. verb
Etymology: Latin retrogradi, from retro- + gradi to step, go — more at grade
transitive verb
archaic : to turn back : reverse
events … which seem to retard or retrograde the civility of ages — R.W.Emerson
intransitive verb
1. of a celestial body : to move in a direction contrary to the normal: as
a. : to move opposite to the general eastward movement in the solar system : move westward on the sky
b. : to move backward in an orbit : turn and move actually or apparently for a while in the direction opposite to its own usual direction
2.
a. : to recede over the path of a previous advance : retreat
a glacier retrogrades
the army retrogrades from the front
b. : to go back over something (as a narrative or argument) : recapitulate
3. : to decline from a better to a worse condition : fall back from a higher to a lower state of development
retrograde in intelligence
manufacturing retrograding to a cottage industry
Synonyms: see recede
V. adjective
1. : being or relating to the rotation of a satellite in a direction opposite to that of the body being orbited
2. : retro herein
retrograde fashion