relapse — a deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement
Pronunciation (IPA): /rɪˈlæps/
Example Sentences
- My diet was going perfectly until I had a pizza relapse last weekend.
- The cancer patient's relapse was detected early through regular check-ups.
- After three months of not buying shoes, she relapsed and bought five pairs in one day.
relapse
NOUN[/rɪˈlæps/]
a deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement
a deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement
Perhaps recovery, but then relapse and collapse
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin relapsus, the past participle of relabi, meaning 'to slip back' or 'to fall again'. The word combines re- (back, again) with labi (to slide or fall), originally describing a physical sliding backward, and later applied metaphorically to a return to a previous worse state of health or condition.
Breakdown
re- (back, again) + labi (to slide, to fall). The Latin past participle relapsus gave rise to the English noun and verb forms describing a return to illness or undesirable behavior after improvement.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My diet was going perfectly until I had a pizza relapse last weekend.”
“The cancer patient's relapse was detected early through regular check-ups.”
“After three months of not buying shoes, she relapsed and bought five pairs in one day.”
“The rehabilitation program focuses on preventing relapse among former addicts.”
📚Related Words
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