From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Relapse \Re*lapse"\ (r?-l?ps"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Relapsed}
(-l?pst"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Relapsing}.] [L. relapsus, p. p.
of relabi to slip back, to relapse; pref. re- re- + labi to
fall, slip, slide. See {Lapse}.]
1. To slip or slide back, in a literal sense; to turn back.
[Obs.] --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. To slide or turn back into a former state or practice; to
fall back from some condition attained; -- generally in a
bad sense, as from a state of convalescence or amended
condition; as, to relapse into a stupor, into vice, or
into barbarism; -- sometimes in a good sense; as, to
relapse into slumber after being disturbed.
[1913 Webster]
That task performed, [preachers] relapse into
themselves. --Cowper.
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3. (Theol.) To fall from Christian faith into paganism,
heresy, or unbelief; to backslide.
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They enter into the justified state, and so continue
all along, unless they relapse. --Waterland.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Relapse \Re*lapse"\, n. [For sense 2 cf. F. relaps. See
{Relapse}, v.]
1. A sliding or falling back, especially into a former bad
state, either of body or morals; backsliding; the state of
having fallen back.
[1913 Webster]
Alas! from what high hope to what relapse
Unlooked for are we fallen! --Milton.
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2. One who has relapsed, or fallen back, into error; a
backslider; specifically, one who, after recanting error,
returns to it again. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
relapse
n 1: a failure to maintain a higher state [syn: {backsliding},
{lapse}, {lapsing}, {relapse}, {relapsing}, {reversion},
{reverting}]
v 1: deteriorate in health; "he relapsed" [syn: {get worse},
{relapse}] [ant: {bounce back}, {get over}, {get well}]
2: go back to bad behavior; "Those who recidivate are often
minor criminals" [syn: {relapse}, {lapse}, {recidivate},
{regress}, {retrogress}, {fall back}]
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