Relapse
/rɪˈlæps/noun
To return to a previous condition, especially an illness or harmful behavior, after apparent improvement.
Did you know?English first used relapse for a return of illness, preserving the ancient image of a person physically slipping back into a former state.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leb-
“To hang loosely, droop, or fall; the probable ancient root behind Latin labi.”
Classical Latin
Latin
lābī
“To slip, slide, fall, or glide away.”
Classical Latin
Latin
relabī
“To slip back or fall back, formed from re- ('back') plus lābī.”
Late Latin
Latin
relapsus
“A slipping back or returning, especially a return of illness.”
15th Century
English
relapse
“A return of disease after a period of improvement; later also a return to a former condition or behavior.”
Modern English
English
relapse
“To return to illness, addiction, or another previous state after improvement; also the return itself.”