Main Entry: ¹ret·ro·grade

Pronunciation: \ˈre-trə-ˌgrād\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin retrogradus, from retrogradi

Date: 14th century

1 a (1) : having or being motion in a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies and especially east to west among the stars <Saturn is retrograde for another week> (2) : having or being a direction of rotation or revolution that is clockwise as viewed from the north pole of the sky or a planet <a retrograde orbit> b (1) : moving, occurring, or performed in a backward direction (2) : occurring or performed in a direction opposite to the normal or forward direction of conduction or flow — compare anterograde 1 c : contrary to the normal order : inverse
2 : tending toward or resulting in a worse or previous state
3 archaic : contradictory, opposed
4 : characterized by retrogression
5 : affecting memories of a period prior to a shock or seizure <retrograde amnesia>
6 : retro <retrograde fashion>

— ret·ro·grade·ly adverb