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To look backward; hence, to affect or concern what is past. It may be useful to retrospect to an early period. A. Hamilton.

The act, or the faculty, of looking back on things past.

Looking backward; contemplating things past; -- opposed to prospective; as, a retrospective view. The sage, with retrospective eye. Pope.

By way of retrospect.

From or by an after act, or thing done afterward; in consequence of a subsequent act; retrospective.

From or by an after act, or thing done afterward; in consequence of a subsequent act; retrospective. Ex post facto law, a law which operates by after enactment. The phrase is popularly applied to any law, civil or criminal, which is enacted with a retrospective effect, and with intention to produce that effect; but in…

Looking forward in time; acting with foresight; -- opposed to retrospective. The French king of Sweden are circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair. Sir J. Child.

A prefix or combining form signifying backward, back; as, retroact, to act backward; retrospect, a looking back.

To act backward, or in return; to act in opposition; to be retrospective.

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.

A second or repeated view; a reëxamination; a retrospective survey; a looking over again; as, a review of one's studies; a review of life.

The state in which anything is already. The phrase is also used retrospectively, as when, on a treaty of place, matters return to the status quo ante bellum, or are left in statu quo ante bellum, i.e., the state (or, in the state) before the war.