relapse

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   deteriorate in health

   They relapsed after the surgery.

2. 2
   verb

   To fall back again; to slide or turn back into a former state or practice.

   He has improved recently but keeps relapsing into states of utter confusion.

3. 3
   verb

   To return to a vice, especially self-harm or alcoholism, failing to maintain abstinence.

   relapsed after 5 months of being clean

4. 4
   verb

   To slip or slide back physically; to turn back.

   You slip your hold and change your side, Relapsing from a necessary guide.

5. 5
   noun

   The act or situation of relapsing.

   a drug relapse

6. 6
   noun

   a failure to maintain a higher state

7. 7
   verb

   go back to bad behavior

8. 8
   verb

   To recur; to worsen, be aggravated (after a period of improvement).

Etymology

From Latin relapsus, past participle of relabi (“to slide back, fall back”), from re- (“back”) + labi (“to slip, slide, fall”).