retro-gradation

ret·ro·gra·da·tion

[re-troh-grey-dey-shuhn]
noun
1.
backward movement.
2.
decline or deterioration.

Origin:
1545–55; < Late Latin retrōgradātiōn- (stem of retrōgradātiō), probably equivalent to Latin retrōgrad(us) retrograde + -ātiō -ation, as translation of Greek anapodismós

ret·ro·gra·da·to·ry [re-truh-grey-duh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To retro-gradation
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Retro-gradation is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Collins
World English Dictionary
retrograde (ˈrɛtrəʊˌɡreɪd) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  moving or bending backwards
2.  (esp of order) reverse or inverse
3.  tending towards an earlier worse condition; declining or deteriorating
4.  astronomy
 a.  Compare direct occurring or orbiting in a direction opposite to that of the earth's motion around the sun
 b.  occurring or orbiting in a direction around a planet opposite to the planet's rotational direction: the retrograde motion of the satellite Phoebe around Saturn
 c.  appearing to move in a clockwise direction due to the rotational period exceeding the period of revolution around the sun: Venus has retrograde rotation
5.  biology tending to retrogress; degenerate
6.  music of, concerning, or denoting a melody or part that is played backwards
7.  obsolete opposed, contrary, or repugnant to
 
vb
8.  to move in a retrograde direction; retrogress
9.  (US) military another word for retreat
 
[C14: from Latin retrōgradī to go backwards, from gradi to walk, go]
 
retrogra'dation
 
n
 
'retrogradely
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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