Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RE-TORT', n.

1. The return of an argument, charge or incivility in reply; as, the retort courteous. – Shak.
2. In chimistry, a spherical vessel with a long neck bent, to which a receiver may be fitted; used in distillation. – Encyc.

RE-TORT', v.i.

To return an argument or charge; to make a severe reply. He retorted upon his adversary with severity.

RE-TORT', v.t. [L. retortus, retorqueo; re and torqueo, to throw.]

1. To throw back; to reverberate. And they retort that heat again / To the first giver. – Shak.
2. To return an argument, accusation, censure or incivility, as, to retort the charge of vanity. He pass'd through hostile scorn; / And with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd. – Milton.
3. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line. – Bacon.

RE-TORT'ED, pp.

Returned; thrown back; bent back.

RE-TORT'ER, n.

One that retorts.

RE-TORT'ING, ppr.

Returning; throwing back.

RE-TOR'TION, n.

The act of retorting. – Spenser.

RE-TOR'TIVE, a.

Containing retort. – Barlow.

RE-TOSS', v.t. [re and toss.]

To toss back. – Pope.

RE-TOSS'ED, pp.

Tossed back.

RE-TOSS'ING, ppr.

Tossing back.

RE-TOUCH', v.t. [retuch'. re and touch.]

To improve by new touches; as, to retouch a picture or an essay. – Dryden. Pope.

RE-TOUCH'ED, pp. [retuch'ed.]

Touched again; improved by new touches.

RE-TOUCH'ING, ppr. [retuch'ing.]

Improving by new touches.

RE-TRACE', v.t. [Fr. retracer; re and tracer, to trace.]

1. To trace back; to go back in the same path or course, as, to retrace one's steps; to retrace one's proceedings.
2. To track back, as a line. Then if the line of Turnus you retrace, / He springs from Inachus of Argive race. – Dryden.

RE-TRAC'ED, pp.

Traced back.

RE-TRAC'ING, ppr.

Tracing back.

RE-TRACT', n.

Among horsemen, the prick of a horse's foot in nailing a shoe.

RE-TRACT', v.i.

To take back; to unsay; to withdraw concession or declaration. She will, and she will not; she grants, denies, / Consents, retracts, advances, and then dies. – Granville.

RE-TRACT', v.t. [Fr. retracter; Norm. retraicter; L. retractus, retraho; re and traho, to draw.]

1. To recall, as a declaration, words or saying; to disavow; to recant; as, to retract an accusation, charge or assertion. I would as freely have retracted the charge of idolatry, as I ever made it. – Stillingfleet.
2. To take back; to rescind. [Little used.] – Woodward.
3. To draw back, as claws.

RE-TRACT'A-BLE, a.

That may be retracted or recalled.

RE-TRACT'ATE, v.t.

To retract; to recant.

RE-TRACT-A'TION, n. [Fr. from L. retractatio.]

The recalling of what has been said; recantation; change of opinion declared. – South.

RE-TRACT'ED, pp.

Recalled; recanted; disavowed.

RE-TRACT'I-BLE, a.

That maybe drawn back; retractile. – Journ. of Science.