Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Rēt'i-nī'tis, n. p. 1130(Med.) Inflammation of the retina. Dunglison.Rĕt'i-noid, a. p. 1130Resin-like, or resiniform; resembling a resin without being such.Rĕt'/i-nūe, n. p. 1130The body of retainers who follow a prince or other distinguished person; a train of attendants; a suite. Others of your insolent retinue Do hourly carp and quarrel. Shak. To horse we got, and so Went…Rēt'i-pĕd, n. p. 1130(Ornith.) A bird the skin of whose tarsi is divided into small polygonal scales.Re-tir'a-cy, n. p. 1130Act of retiring, or state of being retired; retirement. [Rare.] Bartlett. 2. A sufficient fortune to retire upon; a competency. [U. S.] Bartlett.Rĕt'i-rāde', n. p. 1130A place for retiring to; especially (Fort.), a kind of retrenchment in the body of a bastion, or other work, which is to be disputed inch by inch after the defenses are dismantled. It usually…Re-tire', v. i. p. 1130To 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. 2. To retreat from action or…Re-tīre', v. t. p. 1130To 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. 2.…Re-tire′, n. p. 1130The act of retiring; retreat; recession; a withdrawing. [Obs.] Eve, . . . with audible lament, Discovered soon the place of her retire. Milton. 2. A place of privacy or safety; a retreat. [Obs.]Re-tiréd'ly, adv. p. 1130In a retired manner.Re-tiréd'ness, n. p. 1130A state of retirement; solitude; privacy or secrecy. Atterbury.Re-tire'ment, n. p. 1130The act of retiring or withdrawing from company or from public notice or station. Milton. 2. The state of being retired or withdrawn. The king, sir, is in his retirement, marvelously distempered.…Re-tir'er, n. p. 1130One who retires.Re-tir'ing, p. a. p. 1130Reserved; not forward or obtrusive; as, retiring modesty; retiring manners. 2. Assigned or suitable to one who retires, or is retired, from a public office or station; as, a retiring-pension.Re-told', imp. & p. p. p. 1130of retell.Re-tŏrt′, v. t. p. 1130To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line. Sometimes rose half up, shaking and clapping their wings; sometimes, with retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated. Southey. 2. To throw back; to…Re-tŏrt', v. i. p. 1130To return an argument or charge; to make a severe reply.Re-tŏrt', n. p. 1130The return of an argument, charge, or incivility in reply; a quick and witty response. This is called the retort courteous. Shak. 2. [Fr. retorte, Sp. retorta, from Lat. retortus, p. p. of…Re-tôrt'er, n. p. 1130One who retorts.Re-tôr'tion, n. p. 1130Act of retorting or throwing back; reflection or turning back. [Written also retorsion.] It was, however, necessary to possess some single term expressive of this intellectual retortion. Sir W.…Re-tôrt'ive, a. p. 1130Containing retort.Rē-tōss’, v. t. p. 1130To toss back.Rē-tōuch', v. t. p. 1130To improve by new touches; as, to retouch a picture or an essay.Rē-toûch’, n. p. 1130(Paint. & Sculp.) The re-application of the artist’s hand to a work which had been considered finished before.Rē-trāçe’, v. t. p. 1130To track back, as a line. Then if the line of Turnus you retrace, He springs from Inachus, of Argive race. Dryden. 2. To trace back; to carry or conduct back in the same path or course; to reverse…Re-trăct’, v. t. p. 1130To draw back, as claws. 2. To withdraw; to recall, as a declaration, words, or saying; to disavow; to recant; as, to re-tract an accusation, charge, or assertion. I would as freely have retracted the…Re-trāct’, v. i. p. 1130To take back what has been said; to withdraw concession or declaration. She will, and she will not: she grants, denies, Consents, retracts, advances, and then flies. Granville.Re-trāct', n. p. 1130(Far.) The pricking of a horse's foot in nailing a shoe.Re-trăct'a-ble, a. p. 1130Capable of being retracted or recalled.Re-trăct'āte, v. t. p. 1130To retract; to recant. [Obs. and rare.]Rē/trac-tā'tion, n. p. 1130The act of retracting or recalling what has been said; recantation; change of opinion declared.Re-trāct'i-ble, a. p. 1130Capable of being retracted or drawn back; retractile. [Written also retractable.]Re-trāct'ile, a. p. 1130Capable of being drawn back. “A walrus, with fiery eyes, . . . retractile from external injuries.” Pennant.Re-trăc'tion, n. p. 1130The act of retracting or drawing back; as, the retraction of a sinew. 2. The act of withdrawing something advanced, claimed, or done; declaration of change of opinion; recantation. Other men's…Re-trăct'ive, a. p. 1130Able or ready to retract; withdrawing; retractile.Re-trăct'ive, n. p. 1130That which withdraws or takes from.Re-trăct'ive-ly, adv. p. 1130In a retractive manner.Re-trāct'or, n. p. 1130One who, or that which, retracts or draws back.Re-trāict', n. p. 1130Retreat. [Obs.] See RETREAT. Bacon.Re-trāit', n. p. 1130A cast of countenance; a picture. [Obs.] “Whose fair retrait on my shield do bear.” Spenser.Rē/trans-fōrm’, v. t. p. 1130To transform anew; to change back again.Rē-trāns-for-mā'tion, n. p. 1130A second or repeated transformation; change back again, as to a former state.Rē'trans-lāte', v. t. p. 1130To translate anew.Re-trăx'it, n. p. 1130(Law.) The withdrawing or open renunciation of a suit in court by the plaintiff, by which he forever loses his action. Blackstone.Rē-trĕad', v. t. & i. p. 1131To tread again.Re-trēat’, n. p. 1131The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable. In a retreat he outruns any. Shak. 2. The place to which any one retires; a place of privacy or…Re-trēat’, v. i. p. 1131To go to a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to withdraw. 2. To move back to a place before occupied; to retire. The rapid currents drive Toward the retreating sea their furious tide.…Re-trēat′ful, a. p. 1131Furnishing or serving as a retreat. [Rare.] “Our retreatful flood.” Chapman.Re-trēat'ment, n. p. 1131Retreat. [Rare.]Re-trĕnch', v. t. p. 1131To cut off; to pare away. Thy exuberant parts retrench. Denham. 2. To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench superfluities or expenses. But this thy glory shall be soon retrenched. Milton.…Re-trēnch', v. i. p. 1131To live at less expense; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.Re-trench'ment, n. p. 1131The act of retrenching or of lopping off; the act of removing what is superfluous; as, the retrenchment of words or lines in a writing. 2. The act of curtailing, lessening, or abridging; diminution.…Re-trīb'ūte, v. t. p. 1131To pay back; to make payment, compensation, or reward in return to; as, to retribute one for his kindness; to retribute to a criminal what is proportionate to his offense. [Rare.] Locke.Re-trĭb'ū-ter, n. p. 1131One who makes retribution.Rĕt/ri-bū'tion, n. p. 1131The act of retributing or repaying; repayment. In good offices and due retributions we may not be pinching and niggardly. Hall. 2. The state of being retributed or paid back. 3. That which is given…Re-trib'ū-tive or Re-trib'ū-to-ry, a. p. 1131Tending to retribute; involving, or pertaining to, retribution; as, retributive justice.Re-triev'a-ble, a. p. 1131Capable of being retrieved or recovered.Re-triev'a-ble-ness, n. p. 1131The state of being retrievable.Re-triēv'a-bly, adv. p. 1131In a retrievable manner.Re-triev'al, n. p. 1131The act of retrieving.