Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Retrograde \Re"tro*grade\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Retrograded}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Retrograding}.] [L. retrogradare, retrogradi:
   cf. F. r['e]trograder.]
   1. To go in a retrograde direction; to move, or appear to
      move, backward, as a planet.

   2. Hence, to decline from a better to a worse condition, as
      in morals or intelligence.

Retrograde \Re"tro*grade\, a. [L. retrogradus, from retrogradi,
   retrogressus, to retrograde; retro back + gradi to step: cf.
   F. r['e]trograde. See {Grade}.]
   1. (Astron.) Apparently moving backward, and contrary to the
      succession of the signs, that is, from east to west, as a
      planet. --Hutton.

            And if he be in the west side in that condition,
            then is he retrograde.                --Chaucer.

   2. Tending or moving backward; having a backward course;
      contrary; as, a retrograde motion; -- opposed to
      {progressive}. ``Progressive and not retrograde.''
      --Bacon.

            It is most retrograde to our desire.  --Shak.

   3. Declining from a better to a worse state; as, a retrograde
      people; retrograde ideas, morals, etc. --Bacon.

Source : WordNet®

retrograde
     adj 1: moving from east to west on the celestial sphere; or--for
            planets--around the sun in a direction opposite to
            that of the Earth [ant: {direct}]
     2: of amnesia; affecting time immediately preceding trauma
        [ant: {anterograde}]
     3: going from better to worse [syn: {retrogressive}]
     4: moving or directed or tending in a backward direction or
        contrary to a previous direction [syn: {retral}]

retrograde
     v 1: move backward in an orbit, of celestial bodies
     2: move in a direction contrary to the usual one; "retrograding
        planets"
     3: move back; "The glacier retrogrades" [syn: {retreat}]
     4: go back over; "retrograde arguments" [syn: {rehash}, {hash
        over}]
     5: get worse; fall back to a previous or worse condition [syn:
        {regress}, {retrogress}] [ant: {progress}]