Retroaction
(Re`tro*ac"tion) n. [Cf. F. rétroaction.]
1. Action returned, or action backward.
2. Operation on something past or preceding.
Retroactive
(Re`tro*act"ive) a. [Cf. F. rétroactif.] Fitted or designed to retroact; operating by returned
action; affecting what is past; retrospective. Beddoes.
Retroactive law or
statute (Law),
one which operates to make criminal or punishable, or in any way
expressly to affect, acts done prior to the passing of the law.
Retroactively
(Re`tro*act"ive*ly), adv. In a retroactive manner.
Retrocede
(Re"tro*cede) v. t. [Pref. retro- + cede: cf. F. rétrocéder.] To cede or grant back; as, to
retrocede a territory to a former proprietor.
Retrocede
(Re"tro*cede), v. i. [L. retrocedere; retro backward, back + cedere to go. See Cede.] To
go back.
Retrocedent
(Re`tro*ced"ent) a. [L. retrocedens, p. pr.] Disposed or likely to retrocede; — said of
diseases which go from one part of the body to another, as the gout.
Retrocession
(Re`tro*ces"sion) n. [Cf. F. rétrocession. See Retrocede.]
1. The act of retroceding.
2. The state of being retroceded, or granted back.
3. (Med.) Metastasis of an eruption or a tumor from the surface to the interior of the body.
Retrochoir
(Re"tro*choir) n. [Pref. retro- + choir.] (Eccl. Arch.) Any extension of a church behind
the high altar, as a chapel; also, in an apsidal church, all the space beyond the line of the back or eastern
face of the altar.
Retrocopulant
(Re`tro*cop"u*lant) a. [See Retrocopulation.] Copulating backward, or from behind.
Retrocopulation
(Re`tro*cop`u*la"tion) n. [Pref. retro- + copulation.] Copulation from behind. Sir T.
Browne.
Retroduction
(Re`tro*duc"tion) n. [L. retroducere, retroductum, to lead or bring back; retro backward +
ducere to lead.] A leading or bringing back.
Retroflex
(Re"tro*flex Re"tro*flexed) a. [Pref. retro- + L. flectere, flexum, to bend, to turn.] Reflexed; bent
or turned abruptly backward.
Retroflexion
(Re`tro*flex"ion) n. The act of reflexing; the state of being retroflexed. Cf. Retroversion.
Retrofract
(Re"tro*fract Re"tro*fract`ed), a. [Pref. retro- + L. fractus, p. p. of frangere to break.] (Bot.)
Refracted; as, a retrofract stem.
Retrogenerative
(Re`tro*gen"er*a*tive) a. [Pref. retro- + generative.] Begetting young by retrocopulation.
Retrogradation
(Re`tro*gra*da"tion) n. [F. rétrogradation or L. retrogradatio. See Retrograde.]
1. The act of retrograding, or moving backward.