relapse
UK: rɪˈlæps | US: rɪˈlæps
n. a deterioration in health or condition after a temporary improvement
vi. to fall back into a previous state, especially after partial recovery
relapse = re<again> + lapse<slip/fall>
- re: Prefix meaning "again" (from Latin re-).
- lapse: Root meaning "to slip or fall" (from Latin lapsus, past participle of labi "to glide, slip").
Etymology Origin:
The word "relapse" originates from Latin relapsus, combining re- (indicating repetition) and lapsus (a slip or fall). It originally described slipping back into a former state, particularly in medical contexts (e.g., a disease returning after recovery). Over time, it broadened to describe any regression, whether physical, behavioral, or situational. The logic is vivid: imagine someone climbing a slope, slipping (lapse), and sliding back (re-) to where they started.
After months of sobriety, he suffered a relapse and started drinking again.
The patient’s relapse into illness worried the doctors.
Economic progress may relapse if policies are reversed.
Her relapse into old habits disappointed her family.
Without consistent effort, relapse into procrastination is common.