Retrograde Definition

rĕtrə-grād
retrograded, retrogrades, retrograding
adjective
Moving or directed backward; retiring or retreating.
Webster's New World
Opposite to the usual order; inverted or reversed.
The retrograde form of the melody.
American Heritage
Inverse or reverse.
Webster's New World
Reverting to an earlier or inferior condition.
A retrograde way of thinking.
American Heritage
Going back or tending to go back to an earlier, esp. worse, condition; retrogressive.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
verb
retrograded, retrogrades, retrograding
To have a retrograde motion.
Webster's New World
To go, or seem to go, backward.
Webster's New World
To become worse; decline; deteriorate; degenerate.
Webster's New World

(intransitive) To move backwards; to recede; to retire; to decline; to revert.

Wiktionary

(intransitive, astronomy) To show retrogradation.

Wiktionary
noun

A degenerate person.

Wiktionary

(music) The reversal of a melody so that what is played first in the original melody is played last and what is played last in the original melody is played first.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Retrograde

Noun

Singular:
retrograde
Plural:
retrogrades

Origin of Retrograde

  • Middle English from Latin retrōgradus from retrōgradī to go back retrō- retro- -gradus walking (from gradī to go ghredh- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin retrōgradior or Late Latin retrogredere (retro- (“back") + gradi (“walk")).

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle English < Latin retrogradus.

    From Wiktionary

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