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Webster 1913 Edition


Backslide

Back′slide′

(băk′slīd′; 277)
,
Verb.
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 has been professed.

Webster 1828 Edition


Backslide

BACKSLI'DE

,
Verb.
I.
[back and slide.] To fall off; to apostatize; to turn gradually from the faith and practice of christianity. Jer.iii. Hos.iv.

Definition 2024


backslide

backslide

English

Verb

backslide (third-person singular simple present backslides, present participle backsliding, simple past backslid or backslided, past participle backslidden or backslid or backslided)

  1. 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.
  2. To shirk responsibility; to renege on one's obligations or commitments.
    Rich countries are backsliding on their commitment to agree to new WTO measures to help people in poor countries gain access to affordable medicines. Oxfam press release, 24 June 2002

Translations