Backslide

  • 1Backslide — Back slide (b[a^]k sl[imac]d ; 277), v. i. [imp. {Backslid}; p. p. {Backslidden}, {Backslid}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Backsliding}.] [Back, adv. + slide.] To slide back; to fall away; esp. to abandon gradually the faith and practice of a religion that… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2backslide — index recidivate, regress, relapse, repeat (do again), return (go back), reversal, reversion (act o …

    Law dictionary

  • 3backslide — (v.) in the religious sense, 1580s, from BACK (Cf. back) (adj.) + SLIDE (Cf. slide) (v.). Related: Backslider; backsliding (1550s) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4backslide — vb relapse, *lapse Analogous words: revert, *return: deteriorate, degenerate, decline (see corresponding nouns at DETERIORATION): *recede, retreat, retrograde …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5backslide — [v] go astray apostatize, deviate, fall from grace, lapse, leave the straight and narrow*, relapse, revert, sin, slip; concepts 195,665,697 …

    New thesaurus

  • 6backslide — ► VERB (past backslid; past part. backslid or backslidden) ▪ relapse into bad ways. DERIVATIVES backslider noun backsliding noun …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7backslide — [bak′slīd΄] vi. backslid [bak′slid΄] backslid or backslidden [bak′slid΄ n] backsliding to slide backward in morals or religious enthusiasm; become less virtuous, less pious, etc. backslider n …

    English World dictionary

  • 8backslide — intransitive verb (backslid; slid or backslidden; backsliding) Date: 1552 1. to lapse morally or in the practice of religion 2. to revert to a worse condition ; retrogress • backslide noun …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 9backslide — backslider, n. /bak sluyd /, v., backslid, backslid or backslidden, backsliding, n. v.i. 1. to relapse into bad habits, sinful behavior, or undesirable activities. n. 2. an act or instance of backsliding: a backslide from his early training.… …

    Universalium

  • 10backslide — verb a) To regress; to slip backwards or revert to a previous, worse state. He felt better for a little while, before his condition started to backslide. b) To shirk responsibility; to renege on ones obligations or commitments …

    Wiktionary