retrocedere

to retreat

verb reh-troh-CHEH-deh-reh Rare

Origin: Latin retrocedere (to go back), from retro + cedere

Also means

to relegate

Usage Note

Retrocedere has two main meanings: to move backward or retreat (military or figurative), and in Italian sport, to be relegated to a lower division (la squadra è retrocessa in Serie B = the team was relegated to Serie B). It takes essere in compound tenses in the sports sense and often avere in the military sense.

Examples

"La squadra è retrocessa in Serie B."

Natural Translation

The team was relegated to Serie B.

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