retrograde

Everyday

1. Going backwards, or getting worse instead of better. tree →
2. (science, astronomy) Moving in the direction opposite to the usual one; for example, a planet seeming to move backwards across the night sky. tree →
3. (medicine) «Retrograde amnesia» is losing memories from before an injury. tree →

In the lessons

In science and astronomy it describes «retrograde motion»: planets like Mars seem to go backwards for a while because Earth overtakes them. In news and history «a retrograde step» is a change that makes things worse. In astrology people talk of «Mercury in retrograde», which is not science. Phrases: «a retrograde step», «retrograde motion», «in retrograde».

Examples

• Closing the library would be a retrograde step. tree →
• Mars shows retrograde motion in the night sky. tree →
• Venus spins in a retrograde direction, opposite to most planets. tree →
• After the fall, he had retrograde amnesia and forgot the morning. tree →
• Some moons orbit in a retrograde way. tree →
• Going back to the old rules felt retrograde. tree →

Note

Formal. Myth: planets do not really turn round; it only looks that way from Earth. Claims that «Mercury retrograde» causes bad luck are astrology, not science. Opposite: «progressive».

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah the word describes a sphere turning backwards, which the text takes as a sign of evil.

Interpretation. The tradition reads the turning of the sphere forward or backward as a sign of good or ill. The direction of movement is treated as a message.

Examples

• If the sphere be rotated forward, good is implied, if in a retrograde manner evil is intended. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) tree →

Note

Formal. Myth: planets do not really turn round; it only looks that way from Earth. Claims that «Mercury retrograde» causes bad luck are astrology, not science. Opposite: «progressive».