Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Re-triēve', v. t. p. 1131To find again; to recover; to regain; to restore from loss or injury; as, to retrieve one's character; to retrieve a decayed fortune. With late repentance now they would retrieve The bodies they…Re-trieve', n. p. 1131A seeking again; a discovery. B. Jonson. 2. The recovery of game once sprung;—a sporting term. Nares.Re-triev'ment, n. p. 1131Retrieval.Re-triēv'er, n. p. 1131One who retrieves. 2. A dog trained to find and bring in birds that are shot; — so called among sportsmen. Craig.Rē-trĭm′, v. t. p. 1131To trim again.Rĕt′ri-ment, n. p. 1131Refuse; dregs. [Rare.]Rē'tro p. 1131A prefix from the Latin, signifying back or backward.Rĕt/ro-ăct’, v. i. p. 1131To act backward or in return; to act in opposition.Rē'tro-ăc'tion or Rēt'ro-ăc'tion, n. p. 1131Action returned, or action backward. 2. Operation on something past or preceding.Rē'tro-ăct'ive or Rĕt'ro-ăct'ive, a. p. 1131Fitted or designed to retroact; operating by returned action; affecting what is past; retrospective. Beddoes. Retroactive law or statute, one which operates to make criminal or punishable, or in any…Rĕ'tro-ăct'ive-ly or Rĕt'ro-ăct'ive-ly, adv. p. 1131In a retroactive manner; by operating on something past.Rē'tro-cēde or Rĕt'ro-cēde, v. t. p. 1131To cede or grant back; as, to retrocede a territory to a former proprietor.Rĕ'tro-cēde or Rĕt'ro-cēde, v. i. p. 1131To go back.Rē'tro-çēd'ent or Rēt'ro-çēd'ent, a. p. 1131Disposed or likely to retrocede; — applied to diseases which move from one part of the body to another, as the gout.Rĕ'/tro-çĕs'/sion or Rĕt'/ro-çĕs'/sion, n. p. 1131The act of retroceding. 2. The state of being retroceded or granted back.