retrograde

See also: rétrograde, rétrogradé, and retrogradé

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛtɹəˌɡɹeɪd/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Middle English [Term?], from Latin retrōgradus, from retrō (“backwards”) + gradus (“step”).

Adjective

retrograde (comparative more retrograde, superlative most retrograde)

1. Directed backwards, retreating; reverting, especially to an inferior state, declining; inverse, reverse; movement opposite to normal or intended motion, often circular motion.

   retrograde ideas, morals, etc.

2. Counterproductive to a desired outcome.
   • 1601 - William Shakespeare, Hamlet Act I Scene ii.

     In going back to school in Wittenberg, / It is most retrograde to our desire:/ And we beseech you, bend you to remain

3. (astronomy, of a body orbiting another) In the opposite direction to the orbited body's spin.
4. (geology) Describing a metamorphic change resulting from a decreasing pressure or temperature.
5. (by extension, of a person) A person who opposes social reforms, favoring the maintenance of the status quo, conservative.

Synonyms

• traditionalist
• reactionary

Antonyms

• liberal
• reformist
• progressist

Related terms

• anterograde
• prograde

 

Translations

Directed backwards...

• Czech: upadající, zpátečnický
• Finnish: retrogradinen (fi)
• French: rétrograde (fr) m or f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• German: retrograd (de)
• Russian: ретрогра́дный (ru) (retrográdnyj)
• Swedish: bakåtsträvande

Counterproductive to a desired outcome

• French: rétrograde (fr) m or f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

(astronomy) In the opposite direction to the orbited body's spin

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 逆行 (zh) (nìxíng)

• Czech: retrográdní, zpětný
• Finnish: retrogradinen (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: rétrograde (fr) m or f
• Greek:

  Ancient Greek: ἀφαιρετικός (aphairetikós)

• Persian: بازگشتی (fa) (bāzgaštī)

(geology) Describing a metamorphic change

• Czech: retrográdní
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

retrograde (plural retrogrades)

1. A degenerate person.
2. (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.

Translations

degenerate person

• French: rétrograde (fr) m or f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: ретрогра́д (ru) m (retrográd), ретрогра́дка (ru) f (retrográdka)

music: reversal of a melody

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 逆行 (zh) (nìxíng)

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Etymology 3

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

Verb

1. (intransitive) To move backwards; to recede; to retire; to decline; to revert.
   • 1845, Joseph C. Neal, “The Moral of Goslyne Greene, who was Born to a Fortune”, in The Gift: A Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Present, Philadelphia, Pa.: Carey and Hart, →OCLC, page 68:

     A dabble in the stocks does not always turn out profitably; cotton is sometimes heavy on our hands, and real estate will sulkily retrograde, when, by the calculation, it ought to have advanced.

2. (intransitive, astronomy) To show retrogradation.

Antonyms

• prograde
• direct

Related terms

• retrogress
• retrogression
• retrogressive

 

Translations

to move backwards, recede, retire, decline, revert

• Finnish: vetäytyä (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Persian: بازگشتن (fa) (bāzgaštan)

astronomy: to show retrogradation

• Italian: retrogradare
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Interlingua: ^{(please verify)} retrogradar
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Anagrams

• retrogarde

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German

Adjective

retrograde

1. inflection of retrograd:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

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Italian

Adjective

retrograde

1. (deprecated template usage) Feminine plural of adjective retrogrado.

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Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /retɾoˈɡɾade/ [re.t̪ɾoˈɣ̞ɾa.ð̞e]

Verb

retrograde

1. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of retrogradar.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of retrogradar.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of retrogradar.
4. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of retrogradar.