re-, return, revert, resume, restore, go backwards
戻 centers on going back to a previous state or place: returning, reverting, resuming, or restoring something. The sense of going backwards is a natural extension of this idea.
戻 is the modern simplified form of 戾. The older form combines 户 (door) with 犬 (dog), possibly suggesting a dog returning through a door. The modern form replaces 犬 with 大, but the core idea of returning remains.
The outer 户 looks like a door, and the inner 大 looks like a person with arms outstretched. Picture someone returning home and opening the door wide to come back inside.
For レイ, imagine a person returning home and laying down to rest: lay -> レイ, and the door 户 is wide open for their return.
to turn back (e.g. half-way)
to put back; to return; to give back; to restore (to a previous state, e.g. defrosting, reconstituting, reconciling); to turn back (e.g. clock hand)
to take back; to get back; to regain; to recover; to restore; to recoup
retrogression; reversal; relapse; doubling back; backtracking
going backward; turning back; backtracking; doubling back
repayment; refund; payback
repurchase; redemption
pulling body slam
woman who has divorced and moved back to her parents; moving back to one's parents after getting divorced
to bring back
to call (someone) back; to recall; to call home
to buy back; to redeem
to bring back; to restore
to come back
refund; rebate; repayment
to push back; to press back; to force back
to repay; to pay back; to refund; to reimburse
returning; giving back
to return; to come back
to send back; to refer back