can·cri·zans \ˈkaŋkrə̇ˌzanz, -ank-\adjective Etymology: Medieval Latin, present participle of cancrizare to go backwards, from Latin cancr-, cancer crab + Late Latin -izare -ize music: having the theme or subject repeated backwards note for note < a cancrizans canon > < a 12-tone composition that is cancrizans > — compare crab form