2 entries under this word

Relapse

Re-lāpse', v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. RELAPSED (re-lā pst'); p. pr. & vb. n. RELAPSING.] [Lat. relabi, relapsus, from re, again, back, and labi, to fall, slip, slide.]

To slip or slide back; to return.
To fall back; to return to a former state or practice; generally in a bad sense, as from a state of convalescence or amended moral condition.

Re-lāpse', n.

noun

n. [See supra. Fr. & Pr. relaps, Sp. & Pg. relapso, a person relapsing.] 1. A sliding or falling back, particularly into a former bad state, either of body or morals. Alas! from what high hope to what relapse, Unlooked for, are we fallen! Milton. 2. One who has relapsed or fallen back into error; specifically, one who, after recanting error, returns to it again. [Obs.]