laps

Latin

Variants

lapslapselabilab

Related Roots

About This Root

From Latin lābī (to slip, slide, fall), past participle lāpsus. Conveys gentle falling or sliding: lapse (a slip or passage of time), relapse (slide back into a former state), and elapse (time slipping by). The metaphor of 'slipping' links physical motion to the passage of time and moral failing.

Associated Words

elapse

(Of time) to pass by

IELTSTOEFLC2

lapse

A temporary failure or slip; to fall into a worse state or become invalid

IELTSGREC1

relapse

A return to illness or bad behavior after improvement; to fall back into a worse state

IELTSTOEFLGRE