Etymology of Regression

In math and machine learning, there are jargons like • linear regression • logistic regression.

what do they mean by regression?

basically, they mean tracing back, similar to the sense of reverse engineering.

early 15c., “act of passing back or returning,” from Latin regressionem (nominative regressio) “a going back, a return,” noun of action from past-participle stem of regredi “to go back” (see regress (n.)).

From 1590s as “act of returning toward a point of departure” (of fluids, spirits, actions, etc.); from 1640s as “return (to or into) a certain state or condition, relapse.” Genetics sense is by 1885.

2023-09-23 from https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=Regression