regress

Where does the word "regress" come from? It comes from Latin regredi, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Regress’s story begins in Latin: regredi meant “to step back.” To step back, from re- (back) and gradi (to step). It reached English by 1400s as regress. Settled as the English word for returning to an earlier, worse state. Today, regress means to return to a former or less developed state.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient regredi "to step back", to step back, from re- (back) and gradi (to step).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s regress "to return to a previous, less developed state", settled as the English word for returning to an earlier, worse state.