Backslide — Back slide (b[a^]k sl[imac]d ; 277), v. i. [imp. {Backslid}; p. p. {Backslidden}, {Backslid}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Backsliding}.] [Back, adv. + slide.] To slide back; to fall away; esp. to abandon gradually the faith and practice of a religion that… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
backslide — index recidivate, regress, relapse, repeat (do again), return (go back), reversal, reversion (act o … Law dictionary
backslide — (v.) in the religious sense, 1580s, from BACK (Cf. back) (adj.) + SLIDE (Cf. slide) (v.). Related: Backslider; backsliding (1550s) … Etymology dictionary
backslide — vb relapse, *lapse Analogous words: revert, *return: deteriorate, degenerate, decline (see corresponding nouns at DETERIORATION): *recede, retreat, retrograde … New Dictionary of Synonyms
backslide — [v] go astray apostatize, deviate, fall from grace, lapse, leave the straight and narrow*, relapse, revert, sin, slip; concepts 195,665,697 … New thesaurus
backslide — ► VERB (past backslid; past part. backslid or backslidden) ▪ relapse into bad ways. DERIVATIVES backslider noun backsliding noun … English terms dictionary
backslide — [bak′slīd΄] vi. backslid [bak′slid΄] backslid or backslidden [bak′slid΄ n] backsliding to slide backward in morals or religious enthusiasm; become less virtuous, less pious, etc. backslider n … English World dictionary
backslide — intransitive verb (backslid; slid or backslidden; backsliding) Date: 1552 1. to lapse morally or in the practice of religion 2. to revert to a worse condition ; retrogress • backslide noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
backslide — verb a) To regress; to slip backwards or revert to a previous, worse state. He felt better for a little while, before his condition started to backslide. b) To shirk responsibility; to renege on ones obligations or commitments … Wiktionary
backslide — verb (I) to start doing the bad things that you used to do, especially after having improved your behaviour: I haven t had a cigarette for two months, but recently I m afraid I ve begun to backslide. backslider noun (C) … Longman dictionary of contemporary English