Retire

v. i. [imp. & p. p. RETIRED; p. pr. & vb. n. RETIRING.] [Fr. retirer, Pr., Sp., & Pg. retirar, It. ritirare, from re, again, back, and Fr. tirer, Pr., Sp., & Pg. tirer, It. tirare, to draw, from Goth. ta-iran, O. H. Ger. zerjan, Eng. tear.]

1Sense 1. To draw back or away; to keep aloof; to withdraw; to retreat; to go from company or from a public place into privacy; as, to retire from the world; to retire from notice.

2Sense 2. To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle.

3Sense 3. To withdraw from a public station. “From Britannia’s public posts retire.” Addison.

4Sense 4. To recede; to fall back; as, the shore of the sea retires in bays and gulfs.

Retired flank (Fort.), a flank having an arc of a circle with its convexity turned toward the place. Brande. — Retired list (Milit. or Naut.), a list of officers retired from public service. — Retiring pension, a pension granted to a public officer on his withdrawal from office or service.

Synonyms— To withdraw; leave; depart; secede; recede; retrocede.

v. t. 1. To withdraw; to take away. [Obs. or rare.]

He retired himself, his wife and children, into a forest. Sidney.

As when the sun is present all the year, And never doth retire his golden ray. Davies.

2Sense 2. To pay up and withdraw from circulation; as, to retire the bonds of a railway company. [Recent.]

3Sense 3. To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; as, to retire a military or naval officer.