relapse

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a failure to maintain a higher state
  2. verb deteriorate in health
  3. verb go back to bad behavior

Etymology

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

In classic literature

Synonyms

backsliding, lapse, lapsing, relapsing, reversion, reverting

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