go back to bad behavior; "Those who recidivate are often minor criminals"
To backslide; to fall again.
r[=e]-sid'i-v[=a]t, v.i. to fall again: to backslide.--ns. RECIDIV[=A]'TION; RECID'IVIST (Fr. law), a relapsed criminal.--adj. RECID'IVOUS, liable to backslide. [Fr.,--L. recid[=i]vus, falling back.]