Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A disorder of locomotion, seen sometimes in paralysis agitans, in which the patient is impelled to run backward as if in the endeavor to recover his balance.
  • noun A pushing or forcing of the fetal head backward in labor.
  • noun Transference of an external disease to some internal part or organ.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun medicine a tendency to step or walk backwards involuntarily, especially as a symptom of Parkinsonism

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

retro- +‎ pulsion

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word retropulsion.

Examples

  • Object entering system at speol (speed of light) commencing retropulsion manoeuvres.

    Duel Under the Double Sun Scheer, Karl 1977

  • The craft still had an ample amount of fuel but it was an unwritten law of astronautics that fuel should never be wasted if there was some other way to reach the desired destination-and by this manoeuvre Laughlin was avoiding the use of the retropulsion.

    Division 3 Mahr, Kurt 1976

  • The autopilot braked the velocity with maximum retropulsion and took charge of the SJ-09's reeling course.

    Unleashed Powers Brand, Kurt 1976

  • Rhodan also went into retropulsion to brake our speed.

    Mystery of the Anti Scheer, Karl 1976

  • A tendency to go backward or retropulsion has been observed, according to Gray, as has also a tendency to go forward or propulsion.

    Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine 1896

  • A tendency to go backward or retropulsion has been observed, according to Gray, as has also a tendency to go forward or propulsion.

    Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine 1896

  • This supposed retropulsion of erysipelas on the brain from the frequent appearance of delirium, has prevented the free use of the lancet early in this disease to the destruction of many; as it has prevented the subduing of the general inflammation, and thus has in the end produced the particular one on the brain.

    Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life Erasmus Darwin 1766

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.