retrogradelyadv.
/ˈrɛtrə(ʊ)ɡreɪdli/, U.S. /ˈrɛtrəˌɡreɪdli/ In a retrograde way or manner; esp. in a backward direction. Now chiefly in scientific contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > [adverb]
abackOE
ruglingc1225
abackwardc1275
backwarda1300
hindwarda1300
arsewardly1530
arseward1553
rearward1604
retrogradea1620
aversively?1624
arsewards1648
retrogradely1658
regressively1755
backlings1786
tailwise1825
rearwards1835
bass-ackwardsa1865
arseling1887
bass-ackward1902
ass-backwards1934
backasswards1951
backassward1961
1658 T. Bromhall Treat. Specters iv. 264 The water making a reflux and flowing retrogradely.
1666 A. Brome tr. Horace Poems 98 Least Fortunes wheel should retrogradely run.
1730 B. Morrice Dissectio Mentis Humanæ 35 Oh, thou! be retrogradely bright.
1779 Sketch of Farce ii. 26 He must, as it were, move retrogradely, to get forwards.
1864 E. S. S. Rouse Bugle Blast xv. 76 It was a retrogradely fought battle, in which the enemy was held completely in check and foiled at every point.
1894 Idler Sept. 199 I daresay it's all very foolish and retrogradely sentimental.
1946 Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 59 109 The similarities of the motions of a retrogradely precessing top and the spherical pendulum.
1967 Jrnl. Pediatrics 70 343/1 Contrast medium was found to enter the duodenal lumen retrogradely from intestinal lymphatics.
2001 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98 11011 Secreted NGF [= nerve growth factor] is internalized by the nerve terminal and transported retrogradely to the cell body to exert its trophic effects.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1658