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Entry 5 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Retrograde

/rĕt'-rəg-rādˌ/ · Re·tro·grade · IPA /ˈɹɛtɹəˌɡɹeɪd/
01 a. Apparently moving backward, and contrary to the succession of the signs, that is, from east to west, as a planet.
  1. 1.
    Apparently moving backward, and contrary to the succession of the signs, that is, from east to west, as a planet.(Astron.)
    “And if he be in the west side in that condition, then is he retrograde.” — Chaucer.
  2. 2.
    Tending or moving backward; having a backward course; contrary; as, a retrograde motion; -- opposed to progressive.
    “It is most retrograde to our desire.” — Shak.
  3. 3.
    Declining from a better to a worse state; as, a retrograde people; retrograde ideas, morals, etc.
02 v. i. To go in a retrograde direction; to move, or appear to move, backward, as a planet.
imp. & p. p. Retrograded; p. pr. & vb. n. Retrograding
  1. 1.
    To go in a retrograde direction; to move, or appear to move, backward, as a planet.
  2. 2.
    Hence, to decline from a better to a worse condition, as in morals or intelligence.