— relapsable , adj. — relapser , n.
v. /ri laps"/ ; n. /ri laps", ree"laps/ , v. , relapsed, relapsing , n.
v.i.
1. to fall or slip back into a former state, practice, etc.: to relapse into silence.
2. to fall back into illness after convalescence or apparent recovery.
3. to fall back into vice, wrongdoing, or error; backslide: to relapse into heresy.
n.
4. an act or instance of relapsing.
5. a return of a disease or illness after partial recovery from it.
[ 1400-50; (v.) late ME relapsus, ptp. of relabi to slide back, revert ( re- RE- + lab- v. stem + -sus for -tus ptp. suffix); (n.) late ME relapsus, equiv. to L relab ( i ) + -sus for -tus suffix of v. action ]
Syn. 3. regress, revert, lapse.