Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “retrograde” come from?

Retrograde comes from Latin retrogradus, from Latin gradus and Latin gradi, ultimately traced through Proto-Indo-European gʰredʰ-, wert-, and wer-.

retrograde (English): Directed backwards, retreating; reverting,...

Definitions

  1. Directed backwards, retreating; reverting,...

Ancestry of “retrograde”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanretrogradretrograde, backward
2Frenchrétrograderetrograde; first-person singular present...
3Latinretrogradus—
4Latinretrō—
5Latindūcere—
6Proto-Italicdoukōlead
7Proto-Indo-Europeandéwketi—
8Proto-Indo-Europeandewk-to pull, to draw; to lead

Words derived from “retrograde”

  • retrograding
  • retrogradely
  • retrogradation
  • nonretrograde
  • retrogradeness
  • retrogradingly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dewk- →