retroactive
(adjective) descriptive of any event or stimulus or process that has an effect on the effects of events or stimuli or process that occurred previously
Source: WordNet® 3.1
retroactive (not comparable)
Extending in scope, effect, application or influence to a prior time or to prior conditions
Source: Wiktionary
Re`tro*act"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. rétroactif.]
Definition: Fitted or designed to retroact; operating by returned action; affecting what is past; retrospective. Beddoes. Retroactive law or statute (Law), one which operates to make criminal or punishable, or in any way expressly to affect, acts done prior to the passing of the law.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
1 June 2025
(verb) come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect; “Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble”; “the political movie backlashed on the Democrats”
The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.
