"relapsed criminal," 1863, from French récidiviste, from récidiver "to fall back, relapse," from Medieval Latin recidivare "to relapse into sin," from Latin recidivus "falling back," from recidere "fall back," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + comb. form of cadere "to fall" (see case (n.)). Recidivation in the spiritual sense is attested from early 15c., was very common 17c.
recidivist re·cid·i·vist (rĭ-sĭd'ə-vĭst)
A person who relapses, especially by returning to criminal behavior.
recidivism re·cid·i·vism (rĭ-sĭd'ə-vĭz'əm)
A tendency to lapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially a pattern of criminal habits.
The relapse of a disease or symptom. Also called recidivation.