Re‐lapse″, n. [For sense 2 cf. F. relaps. See Relapse, v.] 1. A sliding or falling back, especially into a former bad state, either of body or morals; backsliding; the state of having fallen back.
Alas! from what high hope to what relapse
Unlooked for are we fallen! Milton.
2. One who has relapsed, or fallen back, into error; a backslider; specifically, one who, after recanting error, returns to it again.