RETROGRADE

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin retrogradus, from retrogradi Date: 14th century 1. a. having or being motion in a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies and especially east to west among the stars , having or being a direction of rotation or revolution that is clockwise as viewed from the north pole of the sky or a planet , b. moving, occurring, or performed in a backward direction , occurring or performed in a direction opposite to the normal or forward direction of conduction or flow , contrary to the normal order ; inverse , tending toward or resulting in a worse or previous state, contradictory , opposed , characterized by retrogression, affecting memories of a period prior to a shock or seizure , retro , ~ly adverb II. adverb Date: circa 1619 backward , reversely, III. verb see: grade Date: 1582 transitive verb to turn back ; reverse , intransitive verb 1. to go back ; retreat , to go back over or recapitulate something, to decline to a worse condition