Defn: A falling back; a backsliding. Hammond.

RECIDIVISM
Re*cid"i*vism, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being recidivous; relapse, specif.
(Criminology),

Defn: a falling back or relapse into prior criminal habits, esp. after conviction and punishment.

The old English system of recognizances, in which the guilty party
deposits a sum of money, is an excellent guarantee to society against
recidivism.
Havelock Ellis.

RECIDIVIST
Re*cid"i*vist, n.

Defn: One who is recidivous or is characterized by recidivism; an incorrigible criminal. — Re*cid`i*vis"tic (#), a.

The criminal by passion never becomes a recidivist, it is the social, not the antisocial, instincts that are strong within him, his crime is a solitary event in his life. Havelock Ellis.

RECIDIVOUS
Re*cid"i*vous, a. Etym: [L. r, fr. recidere to fall back.]

Defn: Tending or liable to backslide or r