RECIDIVIST

[re.cid.i.vist] n [F recidiviste, fr. recidiver to relapse, fr. ML recidivare, fr. L recidivus recurring, fr. recidere to fall back, fr. re- + cadere to fall--more at chance] (1880): one who relapses; specif: an habitual criminal -- recidivist adj -- re.cid.i.vis.tic adj