retrograde 
grade or retrogressive ; develop a less from a 
more complex organization ; degenerate. 
Of all existing species of animals, if we include parasites, 
the -renter number have rctmjraded from a structure to 
which their remote ancestors had once advanced. 
//. Spencer, Prin. of Sociol., 50. 
II. trans. To cause to go backward; turn 
The Firmament shall retrograde his course, 
Swift Euphrates goe hide him in his source. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, 11., Eden. 
retrograde (ret'ro- or re'tro-grad), . [< ME. 
retroqrad, < OF. retrograde, F. retrograde = 
Sp. Pg. It. retrogrado, < L. retrogrades, going 
backward (used of a planet), < retrogradi, go 
backward, retrograde: see retrograde, ?'.] 1. 
Moving backward ; having a backward motion 
or direction; retreating. 
A little above we entered the City at the gate of S. 
Stephen, where on each side a Lion retrograde doth stand. 
Sandys, Travailes, p. 149. 
Now Sir when he had read this act of American revenue, 
and a little recovered from his astonishment, I suppose lie 
made one step retrograde (it is but one), and looked at the 
act which stands just before in the statute-book. 
Burke, Artier. Taxation. 
2. Specifically, in astron., moving backward and 
contrary to the order of the signs relatively to 
the fixed stars : opposed to direct. The epithet 
does not apply to the diurnal motion, since this 
is not relative to the fixed stars. 
1 would have sworn some retro/jrade planet was hanging 
over this unfortunate house of mine. 
Sterne, Tristram Shandy, ill. 23. 
3. In biol, characterized by or exhibiting de- 
generation or deterioration, as an organism or 
any of its parts which passes or has passed from 
a higher or more complex to a lower or simpler 
structure or composition ; noting such change 
of organization : as, retrograde metamorphosis 
or development; a retrograde theory. 4. In 
zoo'L, habitually walking or swimming back- 
ward, as many animals : correlated with lateri- 
grade, gravigrade, saltigrade, etc. 5. In hot.: 
(a) Going backward in the order of specializa- 
tion, from a more to a less highly developed 
form : referring either to reversions of type or 
to individual monsters. (&t) Formerly used 
of hairs, in the sense of retrorse. 6. Losing 
ground; deteriorating; declining in strength or 
excellence. 
It is good for princes, if they use ambitious men, to 
handle it so as they be still progressive and not retro- 
grade. Bacon, Ambition. 
7t. Contrary; opposed; opposite. 
5180 
Some of these [manipulations in glass-making], from a 
technical point of view, seem ntngrfeeimai^ j^y , 3 
retrogressive (re-tro-gres'iv), a. [< retrogress 
+ -ive.] Going backward ; retrograde ; declin- 
ing in strength or excellence; degenerating. 
retrospective 
sometimes in paralysis agitans, in which the pa- 
tient is impelled to run backward as if in the en- 
deavor to recover his balance. 2. A pushing 
or forcing of the fetal head backward in labor. 
retropulsive (re-tro-pul'siv), a. [< L. retro. 
For your intent 
In going back to school to Wittenberg, 
It is most retrograde to our desire. 
Shak., Hamlet, i. 2. 114. 
From instrumental causes proud to draw 
Conclusions retrograde, and mad mistake. 
Cowper, Task, iii. 239. 
Retrograde cancer, a cancer which has become firmer 
and smaller, and so remains. Retrograde develop- 
ment or metamorphosis, in binl. : (a) Degradation of the 
form or structure of an organism ; reduction of morpholo- 
gical character to one less specialized or more generalized, 
as in parasites. See parasitism, (b) Change of tissue or sub- 
stance from the more complex to the simpler composi- 
tion ; catabolism. See metamorphosis. Retrograde im- 
itation or inversion, in contrapuntal music, imitation in 
which the subject or theme is repeated backward : usually 
marked recte e retro. Compare cancrizans. Reversed 
retrograde imitation. See reversed. 
retrogradingly (ret'ro- or re'tro-gra-ding-li), 
adv. By retrograde movement. Imp. Diet. 
retrogress (re'tro-gres), . [< L. retrogressus, 
a retrogression (of the sun),< retrogradi, pp. re- 
trogressus, go backward : see retrograde."] Ret- 
rogradation; falling off ; decline. [Bare.] 
Progress in bulk, complexity, or activity involves retro- 
gress in fertility ; and progress in fertility involves retro- 
gress in bulk, complexity, or activity. 
a. Spencer, Prin. of Biol., 327. 
retrogression (re-tro-gresh'on), w. [= F. re- 
trogression, as if < L. * retrogressing-), < retro- 
gradi, pp. retrogressus. go backward : see retro- 
grade.'] 1. The act of going backward; retro- 
gradation. 
In the body politic ... it is the stoppage of that pro- 
gress and the commencement of retrogression, that alone 
would constitute decay. J. S. Mill, Logic, V. v. S 6. 
2. In astron,, same as rctrogradatton. 3. In 
biol., backward development; degeneration; 
retrograde metamorphosis. When a plant, as it ap- 
proaches maturity, becomes less perfectly organized than 
might be expected from its early stages and known re- 
lationships, it is said to undergo retrogression. 
retrogressional (rS-trd-greBh'gn-al), . [< re- 
trogression + -i/l.] Pertaining to or character- 
ised by retrogression; retrogressive. 
We must have discovery, and that by licensing the fash- 
ions of successive times, most of them defective, many 
retroyressiee, a few on the path to higher use and beauty. 
The Century, XXIX. 503. 
With regard to parasites, naturalists have long recog- 
nised what is called retrogressive metamorphosis ; and par- 
asitic animals are as a rule admitted to be instances of 
Degeneration. E. R. Lankester, Degeneration, p. 30. 
retrogressively (re-tro-gres'iv-li), adv. In a 
retrogressive manner; with retrogression or 
degeneration. 
retroinsular (re-tro-in'su-lar), a. [< L. retro, be- 
hind^ insula, an island: see insular, 5.] Situ- 
ated behind the insula Retroinsular convolu- 
tions two or three convolutions behind the insula, and 
wholly within the fissure of Sylvius. Also called temporo- 
parietal convolutions. 
retrojection (re-tro-jek'shon), n. [< L. retro, 
back, behind, + -j'ectio(n-), in comp., < jacere, 
throw: see jei 1 .] In med., the washing out of 
a cavity or canal from within outward. 
retrolingual (re-tro-ling'gwal), a. [< L. retro 
back, behind, + lingua, tongue: see Imrjual.] 
Serving to retract the tongue. 
The muscular and elastic elements of the retmlimjual 
membrane of the frog. Nature, XLI. 479. 
retrolocation (re"tro-lo-ka'shgn), n. [< L. re- 
tro, back, + locatid(n-), location.] Same as 
retroposition. 
retromammary (re-tro-mam'a-ri), a. [< L. re- 
tro, behind, + mamma, the breast: see mam- 
mary.'] Situated behind the mammary gland: 
as, a retromammary abscess. 
retromingency (re-tro-min'jen-si), n. [< re- 
tromingen(t) + -/.]' Backward urination; 
the habit of being retromingent, or the confor- 
mation of body which necessitates this mode 
of urinating. 
The last foundation [for the belief that hares are her- 
maphrodite] was retromingency. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., iii. 17. 
retromingent (re-tro-min'jent), a. and n. [< L. 
retro, back, behind, '+ mingen(t-)s, ppr. of min- 
gere, urinate: see micturition.'] I. a. Urinat- 
ing backward; characterized by or exhibiting 
retromingency. 
The long penis has a mushroom shaped glans, and the 
animal [rhinoceros] is retromingent. 
Uuxley, Anat Vert., p. 362. 
II. n. A retromingent animal. 
Except it be in retromingent, and such as couple back- 
ward. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., iii. 17. 
retromingently (re-tro-min'jent-li), adv. So as 
to urinate backward; in a retromingent man- 
ner. Imp. Diet. 
retromorphosed (re-tro-mor'fozd), a. [< retro- 
morpJios-is + -ed'*.] Characterized by or exhib- 
iting retromorphosis; affected by retrograde 
metamorphosis. 
retromorphosis (re"tro-mor-f6'sis), n. [NL., < 
L. retro, backward, + morphosis, q. v.] Retro- 
grade metamorphosis; catabolism. 
retroocular (re-tro-ok'u-lar), a. [< L. retro, 
back, behind, + oculus, eye.] Situated behind 
the eyeball ; retrobulbar. 
retrofiperative (re-tro-op'e-ra-tiv), a. [< L. re- 
tro, back, + LL. optrativua, operative.] Retro- 
active; retrospective in effect: as, a retroop- 
eratire decree. Kinglake. 
retroperitoneal (re-tro-per'i-to-ne'al), a. [< L. 
retro, back, behind, + peritoneum, peritoneum.] 
Situated or occurring behind the peritoneum. 
Retroperitoneal hernia, hernia of the intestine into 
the iliac fossa behind the peritoneum. Retroperito- 
neal space, the space behind the peritoneum along tl 
tlljAUpul.01 vo \iv "*y j* "/, - L ' 
back, + pulsus, pp. of pellere, drive, push, + 
-ivc. Cf. pulsice."] Driving back; repelling. 
Smart. 
retrorse (re-trors'), a. [< L. retrorsus, con- 
tracted form of retrorersus, bent or turned 
backward, < retro, backward, + versus, pp. of 
rertere, turn: see verse."] 1. In hot. and root., 
turned back; directed backward; retral. 2. 
In ornitli., turned in a direction the opposite of 
the usual one, without reference to any other 
line or plane; antrorse. See the quotation. 
Bristles or feathers thus growing forwards are called 
retrorse: here used in the sense of an opposite direction 
from the lay of the general plumage; but they should 
properly be called antrorse. 
Coues, Key to N. A. Birds, p. 105. 
retrorsely (re-trors'li), adv. So as to be re- 
trorse ; in a backward direction ; retrad. 
retroserrate (re-tro-ser'at), a. [< L. retro, 
back, + serraliis, saw-shaped: see serrate.} In 
entoni., armed with retrorse teeth; barbed, as 
the sting of a bee. 
retroserrulate (re-tro-ser'i?-lat), a. [< L. 
tro, back, + NL. serrulatm, < serrula, a little 
saw: see serrulate.'] In entoni., finely retroser- 
rate ; armed with minute retrorse teeth, as the 
stings of some hymenopters. 
Retrosiphonata (re - tro - si - fo - na'ta), n. pi. 
[NL., neut. pi. of retrosiplionatus : see retro- 
siphonate.] A primary group of ammonitoid 
cephalopods whose partitions around the si- 
phon were inclined backward, including the 
Goniatitidte. 
Retrosiphonatse (re - tro - si - f o - na te), n. pi. 
[NL., fern. pi. of retrosiplionatus : see retrosi- 
pTwnate."] A subdivision of belemnitoid cepha- 
lopods whose phragmacone had the siphon and 
partitions around it directed backward, includ- 
ing Befew wites and most other genera of the fam- 
ily Belemnitidse. 
retrosiphonate (re-tro-si'fo-nat), o. [< NL. re- 
trosiphonatus, < L. retro, back, + sipho(n-), a 
siphon: see siplwnate.] In conch., having the 
siphon and surrounding partitions directed 
backward, as in Goniatitidee and most lielem- 
nitidse. 
retrospect (ret'ro- or re'tro-spekt), r. t. [< L. 
retrospeetus, pp. (not used) of retrospicere, look 
back, < retro, backward, + specere, look: see 
spectacle.] To look back upon ; consider ret- 
rospectively. [Rare.] 
spine, occup'ied by the aorta, vena cava, and other struc- 
tures, with loose connective tissue. 
retropharyngeal (re"tro-fa-rin'je-al), a. [< L. 
retro, back, + NL. pharynx, pharynx : see phar- 
ynx, pharyngeal."] Situated behind the pharynx. 
Retropharyngeal abscess, an abscess forming in 
the connective tissue behind the pharynx. 
Retropinna (re-tro-pin'ii), n. [NL., < L. retro, 
back, + pinna, a feather: see jrfMftol.] In 
ichtli., a genus of Argentinidee. S. ricliardsoni is 
known as the New Zealand smelt. 
retroposition (re"tro-po-zish'oi>), i. [< L. re- 
tro, back, + positio\n-), position.] Displace- 
ment backward, but without flexion or version : 
said of the uterus. 
retropulsion (re-tro-pul'shon), n. [< L. retro, 
back, + LL. pubfefn-), a Denting (pushing): 
1. A disorder of locomotion, seen 
I will not sully the whiteness of it [my life] (pardon my 
vanity I presume to call it so, on retrospecting it, regard- 
ing my intentions only), by giving way to an act of injus- 
tice. Richardson, Sir Charles Graudison, III. Ixxxvin. 
retrospect (ret'ro- or re'tro-spekt), n. [= Pg. 
retrospecto, < L. 'as if ^retrospeetus, < retrospi- 
cere, pp. retrospeetus (not used), look back: see 
retrospect, *>.] 1. The act of looking backward ; 
contemplation or consideration of the past; 
hence, a review or survey of past events. 
Host of us take occasion to sit still and throw away the 
time in our possession by retrospect on what is past. 
Steele, Spectator, No. 374. 
He reviewed that grand and melancholy story, he gave 
them to see through that pictured retrospect how it had 
been appointed to them to act in the final extremity of 
Greece. R. Choate, Addresses and Orations, p. 185. 
Hence 2. That to which one looks back ; the 
past; a past event or consideration. 
This Instrument is executed by you, your Son, and my 
Niece, which discharges me of all Retrospects. 
Steele, Tender Husband, v. 1. 
" Know you no song of your own land," she said, 
" Not such as moans about the retrospect, 
But deals with the other distance and the hues 
Of promise ; not a death's-head at the wine. 
Tennyson, Princess, iv. 
retrospection (ret-ro- or re-tro-spek'shon), n. 
[< L. retrospeetus, pp. (not used) of retrospicere, 
look back: see retrospect."] 1. The act of look- 
ing back on things past; reflection on the past. 
Drooping she bends o'er pensive Fancy's urn, 
To trace the hours which never can return ; 
Yet with the retrospection loves to dwell, 
And soothe the sorrows of her last farewell ! 
Byron, Childish Recollections. 
2. The faculty of looking back on the past; 
recollection. 
Canst thou take delight in viewing 
This poor isle's approaching ruin ; 
When thy retrospection vast 
Sees the glorious ages past? kinft. 
retrospective (ret-ro- or re-tro-spek'tiv), a. 
[= F. rt'trnxinTlif= Vg.retrospcctifo; as retro- 
