- recidivist
- 1880, "relapsed criminal," from Fr. récidiviste, from récidiver "to fall back, relapse," from M.L. recidivare "to relapse into sin," from L. recidivus "falling back," from recidere "fall back," from re- "back, again" + comb. form of caedere "to fall" (see concise). Recidivation in the spiritual sense is attested from c.1420, was very common 17c.