Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Retrograde, -graid(e, adj. Also: -grad. [ME and e.m.E. retrograde (Chaucer), MF retrograde (mid-14th c. in Larousse) L. retrōgrad-, f. gradus a step. a. Of a planet: Apparently moving from east to west (i.e. contrary to the order of the signs). b. Of movement: From east to west. c. transf. Of movement: In the wrong direction, backwards. —a. a1500 Henr. Fab. 632.
The planeitis … Sum retrograde and sum stationeir 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 25.
Mars occident, retrograde [Sm. retrograide] in his speir 1580 Hume Promine 16.
Flowand Phœbe, … Not retrograd, … Beheld the west with fixit face —b. 1549 Compl. 48/18.
The mouyng of the fyrst mobil … constrenȝeis the tothir nyne speris … to pas vitht it fra orient tyl occident … the compulsit retrograid mouyng is callit be astronomours [etc.] Ib. 55.
The mune … is moir suift in hyr retrograid cours nor the soune is —c. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 170.
Though thy [sc. the king's on the wheel of Fortune] begynnyng hath bene retrograde