As the floodwaters receded, the village began to return to normal life.

receded 是动词 recede 的过去式。recede 由前缀 re-（表示"向后、往回"）和词根 cede（来自拉丁语 cedere，意为"走、移动"）组成，字面意思是"往回走"，引申为"退去、消退"的意思。在句中指洪水水位下降、退去的状态。