recaer

to suffer a relapse

recaer(rreh-kah-ehr)

intransitive verb

1. (medicine)

a. to suffer a relapse

Mi abuelo recayó y tuvimos que trasladarlo al hospital.

My grandfather suffered a relapse and we had to take him to the hospital.

b. to have a relapse

Creía que la enfermedad de mi madre mejoraba, pero recayó.

I thought my mother's condition was improving, but she had a relapse.

c. to relapse

El paciente recayó en la psicosis y tuvo que ser internado.

The patient relapsed in his psychosis and had to be put in an institution.

2. (to be assigned to; used with "en" or "sobre")

a. to fall on

La responsabilidad de mantener a la familia recayó en Miguel cuando su padre falleció.

When his father died, the responsibility of supporting the family fell on Miguel.

b. to devolve upon

En tiempos como estos, el deber ciudadano recae sobre todos nosotros.

At times like this, civic duty devolves upon all of us.

3. (to be awarded to)

a. to go to

El Óscar al mejor director recayó en James Cameron por "Titanic".

The Academy Award for Best Director went to James Cameron for "Titanic."

4. (to reoffend)

a. to relapse into

Si Martínez vuelve a recaer en el robo, pasará 15 años en prisión.

If Martinez relapses into theft again, he will serve 15 years in jail.

b. to fall back into

Desafortunadamente, recayó en una vida de crimen unos meros días después de ser liberado de la cárcel.

Unfortunately, he fell back into a life of crime mere days after he was released from prison.