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recidivist

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re⋅cid⋅i⋅vism

  [ri-sid-uh-viz-uhm]
Use recidivist in a Sentence
–noun
1. repeated or habitual relapse, as into crime.
2. Psychiatry. the chronic tendency toward repetition of criminal or antisocial behavior patterns.
Origin:
1885–90; < L recidīv(us) relapsing (recid(ere) to fall back (re- re- + -cidere, comb. form of cadere to fall) + -īvus -ive ) + -ism

Related forms:
re⋅cid⋅i⋅vist, noun, adjective
re⋅cid⋅i⋅vis⋅tic, re⋅cid⋅i⋅vous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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re·cid·i·vism   (rĭ-sĭd'ə-vĭz'əm)   
n.  A tendency to recidivate.

[From recidivist, one who recidivates, from French récidiviste, from récidiver, to relapse, from Medieval Latin recidīvāre, from Latin recidīvus, falling back, from recidere, to fall back : re-, re- + cadere, to fall; see kad- in Indo-European roots.]
re·cid'i·vist n., re·cid'i·vis'tic, re·cid'i·vous adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

recidivist 
1880, "relapsed criminal," from Fr. récidiviste, from récidiver "to fall back, relapse," from M.L. recidivare "to relapse into sin," from L. recidivus "falling back," from recidere "fall back," from re- "back, again" + comb. form of caedere "to fall" (see concise). Recidivation in the spiritual sense is attested from c.1420, was very common 17c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: re·cid·i·vism
Pronunciation: ri-'si-d&-"vi-z&m
Function: noun
: relapse into criminal behavior

Main Entry: re·cid·i·vist
Pronunciation: ri-'si-d&-vist
Function: noun
: an habitual criminal —recidivist adjective —re·cid·i·vis·tic /ri-"si-d&-'vis-tik/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: re·cid·i·vism
Pronunciation: ri-'sid-&-"viz-&m
Function: noun
: a tendency to relapse into a previous condition ormode of behavior recidivism among heroin addicts>; especially : relapse into criminal behavior

Main Entry: re·cid·i·vist
Pronunciation: -v&st
Function: noun
: one who relapses; specifically : an habitualcriminal —recidivist adjective —re·cid·i·vis·tic /-"sid-&-'vis-tik/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

recidivism re·cid·i·vism (rĭ-sĭd'ə-vĭz'əm)
n.

  1. A tendency to lapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially a pattern of criminal habits.

  2. The relapse of a disease or symptom. Also called recidivation.

recidivist re·cid·i·vist (rĭ-sĭd'ə-vĭst)
n.
A person who relapses, especially by returning to criminal behavior.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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