(law) an interest in an estate that reverts to the grantor (or his heirs) at the end of some period (e.g., the death of the grantee)

(genetics) a return to a normal phenotype (usually resulting from a second mutation)

a reappearance of an earlier characteristic

[ Syn: atavism , throwback ]

turning in the opposite direction

[ Syn: reverse , reversal , turnabout , turnaround ]

returning to a former state

[ Syn: regression , regress , retrogression , retroversion ]

a failure to maintain a higher state

[ Syn: backsliding , lapse , lapsing , relapse , relapsing , reverting ]