I. rə̇ˈsesiv, rēˈ-, -sēv also -səv adjective
Etymology: Latin recessus (past participle of recedere to recede) + English -ive
1.
a. : tending to go back : receding
the mental apparatus of a considerable percentage of the population tends to be disorganized, becoming recessive — P.A.Sorokin
b. : retiring , withdrawn
a lonely recessive savant who could hardly bear to raise his voice in the classroom — Harper's
2. of an allele : being subordinate to a contrasting allele in manifestation — opposed to dominant ; compare mendel's law
• re·ces·sive·ly -sə̇vlē adverb
• re·ces·sive·ness -sivnə̇s noun -es
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a recessive character or factor
2. : an organism possessing one or more recessive characters