Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
RETIREDLY — REVELRY
RETIREDLY, adv. In solitude or privacy.
RETIREDNESS, n. A state of retirement; solitude; privacy or secrecy.
RETIREMENT, n.
1. The act of withdrawing from company or from public notice or station.
2. The state of being withdrawn; as the retirement of the mind from the senses.
3. Private abode; habitation secluded from much society or from public life.
Caprea had been the retirement of Augustus.
Retirement is as necessary to me as it will be welcome.
4. Private way of life.
Retirement, rural quiet, friendship, books, progressive virtue and approving heaven.
RETIRING, ppr.
1. Withdrawing; retreating; going into seclusion or solitude.
2. a. Reserved; not forward or obtrusive; as retiring modesty; retiring manners.
RETOLD, pret. and pp. of retell; as a story retold.
RETORT, v.t. [L. retortus, retorqueo; re and torqueo, to throw.]
1. To throw back; to reverberate.
And they retort that beat again to the first giver.
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.
3. To bend or curve back; as a retorted line.
RETORT, v.i. To return an argument or charge; to make a severe reply. He retorted upon his adversary with severity.
RETORT, n.
1. The return of an argument, charge or incivility in reply; as the retort courteous.
2. In chimistry, a spherical vessel with its neck bent, to which the receiver is fitted; used in distillation.
RETORTED, pp. Returned; thrown back; bent back.
RETORTER, n. One that retorts.
RETORTING, ppr. Returning; throwing back.
RETORTION, n. The act of retorting.
RETOSS, v.t. [re and toss.] To toss back.
RETOSSED, pp. Tossed back.
RETOSSING, ppr. Tossing back.
RETOUCH, v.t. retuch’. [re and touch.] To improve by new touches; as, to retouch a picture or an essay.
RETOUCHED, pp. retuch’ed. Touched again; improved by new touches.
RETOUCHING, ppr. retuch’ing. Improving by new touches.
RETRACE, v.t.
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 trace back, as a line.
Then if the line of Tumus you retrace, he springs from Inachus of Argive race.
RETRACED, pp. Traced back.
RETRACING, ppr. Tracing back.
RETRACT, v.t. [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.
2. To take back; to rescind. [Little used.]
3. To draw back, as claws.
RETRACT, v.t. To take back; to unsay; to withdraw concession or declaration.
She will, and she will not; she grants, denies, consents, retracts, advances, and then flies.
RETRACT, n. Among horsemen, the prick of a horse’s foot in nailing a shoe.
RETRACTABLE, a. That may be retracted or recalled.
RETRACTATION, n. [L. retractatio.]
The recalling of what has been said; recantation; change of opinion declared.
RETRACTED, pp. Recalled; recanted; disavowed.
RETRACTIBLE, a. That may be drawn back; retractile.
RETRACTILE, a. Capable of being drawn back.
A walrus with fiery eyes - retractile from external injuries.
RETRACTING, ppr. Recalling; disavowing; recanting.
RETRACTION, n. [from retract.]
1. The act of withdrawing something advanced, or changing something done.
2. Recantation; disavowal of the truth of what has been said; declaration of change of opinion.
3. Act of withdrawing a claim.
Other men’s insatiable desire of revenge, hath beguiled church and state of the benefit of my retractions or concessions.
RETRACTIVE, a. Withdrawing; taking from.
RETRACTIVE, n. That which withdraws or takes from.
RETRAICT, n. Retreat. Obs.
RETRAIT, n. A cast of countenance; a picture. Obs.
RETRAXIT, n. [L. retraho, retraxi.] In law, the withdrawing or open renunciation of a suit in court, by which the plaintiff loses his action.
RETREAT, n. [L. retractus, retraho; re and traho.]
1. The act of retiring; a withdrawing of one’s self from any place.
But beauty’s triumph is well tim’d retreat.
2. Retirement; state of privacy or seclusion from noise, bustle or company.
Here in the calm still mirror of retreat.
3. Place of retirement or privacy.
He built his son a house of pleasure - and spared no cost to make it a delicious retreat.
4. Place of safety or security.
That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat from sudden April show’rs, a shelter from the heat.
5. In military affairs, the retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position. A retreat is properly an orderly march, in which circumstance it differs from a flight.
6. The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy; or the order and disposition of ships declining an engagement.
7. The beat of the drum at the firing of the evening gun, to warn soldiers to forbear firing and the sentinels to challenge.
RETREAT, v.i.
1. To retire from any position or place.
2. To withdraw to a private abode or to any secluded situation.
3. To retire to a place of safety or security; as, to retreat into a den or into a fort.
4. To move back to a place before occupied; to retire.
The rapid currents drive, towards the retreating sea, their furious tide.
5. To retire from an enemy or from any advanced position.
RETREATED, as a passive participle, though used by Milton, is not good English.
RETRENCH, v.t.
1. To cut off; to pare away.
And thy exuberant parts retrench.
2. To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench superfluities or expenses.
3. To confine; to limit. [Not proper.]
RETRENCH, v.i. To live at less expense. It is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.
RETRENCHED, pp. Cut off; curtailed; diminished.
RETRENCHING, ppr. Cutting off; curtailing.
RETRENCHMENT, n.
1. The act 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; as the retrenchment of expenses.
3. In military affairs, any work raised to cover a post and fortify it against an enemy; such as fascines, gabions, sandbags and the like.
Numerous remains of Roman retrenchments, constructed to cover the country -
RETRIBUTE, v.t. [L. retribuo; re and tribuo, to give or bestow.]
To pay back; to make payment, compensation or reward in return; as, to retribute one for his kindness; to retribute to a criminal what is proportionate to his offense.
RETRIBUTED, pp. Paid back; given in return; rewarded.
RETRIBUTER, n. One that makes retribution.
RETRIBUTING, ppr. Requiting; making repayment; rewarding.
RETRIBUTION, n.
1. Repayment; return accommodated to the action; reward; compensation.
In good offices and due retributions, we may not be pinching and niggardly.
2. A gratuity or present given for services in the place of a salary.
3. The distribution of rewards and punishments at the general judgment.
It is a strong argument for a state of retribution hereafter, that in this world virtuous persons are very often unfortunate, and vicious persons prosperous.
RETRIBUTIVE, RETRIBUTORY, a. Repaying; rewarding for good deeds, and punishing for offenses; as retributive justice.
RETRIEVABLE, a. [from retrieve.] That may be retrieved or recovered.
RETRIEVE, v.t.
1. To recover; to restore from loss or injury to a former good state; as to retrieve the credit of a nation; to retrieve one’s character; to retrieve a decayed fortune.
2. To repair.
Accept my sorrow, and retrieve my fall.
3. To regain.
With late repentance now they would retrieve the bodies they forsook, and wish to live.
4. To recall; to bring back; as, to retrieve men from their cold trivial conceits.
RETRIEVE, n. A seeking again; a discovery. [Not in use.]
RETRIEVED, pp. Recovered; repaired; regained; recalled.
RETRIEVING, ppr. Recovering; repairing; recalling.
RETROACTION, n. [L. retro, backward, and action.]
1. Action returned, or action backwards.
2. Operation on something past or preceding.
RETROACTIVE, a. [L. retro, backward, and active.]
Operating by returned action; affecting what is past; retrospective.
A retroactive law or statute, is one which operates to affect, make criminal or punishable, acts done prior to the passing of the law.
RETROACTIVELY, adv. By returned action or operation; by operating on something past.
RETROCEDE, v.t. [L. retro, back, and cedo, to give.]
To cede or grant back; as, to retrocede a territory to a former proprietor.
RETROCEDED, pp. Granted back.
RETROCEDING, ppr. Ceding back.
RETROCESSION, n.
1. A ceding or granting back to a former proprietor.
2. The act of going back.
RETRODUCTION, n. [L. retroduco; retro, back, and duco, to lead.] A leading or bringing back.
RETROFLEX, a. [L. retro, back, and flexus, bent.]
In botany, bent this way and that, or in different directions, usually in a distorted manner; as a retroflex branch.
RETROFRACT, RETROFRACTED, a. [L. retro, back, and fractus, broken.]
Reduced to hang down as it were by force so as to appear as if broken; as a retrofract peduncle.
Bent back towards its insertion, as if it were broken.
RETROGRADATION, n.
1. The act of moving backwards; applied to the apparent motion of the planets.
2. A moving backwards; decline in excellence.
RETROGRADE, a. [L. retrogradior; retro, backwards, and gradior, to go.]
1. Going or moving backwards.
2. In astronomy, apparently moving backward and contrary to the succession of the signs, as a planet.
3. Declining from a better to a worse state.
RETROGRADE, v.i. [L. retrogradior; retro and gradior, to go.] To go or move backward.
RETROGRESSION, n. The act of going backward.
RETROGRESSIVE, a. Going or moving backward; declining from a more perfect to a less perfect state.
Geography is at times retrogressive.
RETROMINGENCY, n. [L. retro, backward, and mingo, to discharge urine.]
The act of quality of discharging the contents of the bladder backwards.
RETROMINGENT, a. Discharging the urine backwards.
RETROMINGENT, n. In zoology, an animal that discharges its urine backwards.
The retromingents are a division of animals whose characteristic is that they discharge their urine backwards, both male and female.
RETROPULSIVE, a. [L. retro, back, and pulsus, pello, to drive.] Driving back; repelling.
RETRORSELY, adv. retros’ly. [L. retrorsum, backward.] In a backward direction; as a stem retrorsely aculeate.
RETROSPECT, n. [L. retro, back, and specio, to look.]
A looking back on things past; view or contemplation of something past. The retrospect of a life well spent affords peace of mind in old age.
RETROSPECTION, n.
1. The act of looking back on things past.
2. The faculty of looking back on past things.
RETROSPECTIVE, a.
1. Looking back on past events; as a retrospective view.
2. Having reference to what is past; affecting things past. A penal statute can have no retrospective effect or operation.
RETROSPECTIVELY, adv. By way of retrospect.
RETROVERSION, n. A turning or falling backwards; as the retroversion of the uterus.
RETROVERT, v.t. To turn back.
RETROVERTED, a. [L. retro, back, and verto, to turn.] Turned back.
RETRUDE, v.t. [L. retrudo; re and trudo, to thrust.] To thrust back.
RETUND, v.t. [L. retundo; re and rundo, to beat.]
To blunt; to turn; as an edge; to dull; as, to retund the edge of a weapon.
RETURN, v.i. [L. torno.]
1. To come or go back to the same place. The gentleman goes from the country to London and returns, or the citizen of London rides into the country and returns. The blood propelled from the heart, passes through the arteries to the extremities of the body, and returns through the veins. Some servants are good to go on errands, but not good to return.
2. To come to the same state; as, to return from bondage to a state of freedom.
3. To answer.
He said, and thus the queen of heaven return’d.
4. To come again; to revisit.
Thou to mankind be good and friendly still, and oft return.
5. To appear or begin again after a periodical revolution.
With the year seasons return, but not to me returns day -
6. To show fresh signs of mercy.
Return, O Lord, deliver my soul. Psalm 6:4.
To return to God, to return from wickedness, to repent of sin or wandering from duty.
RETURN, v.t.
1. To bring, carry or send back; as, to return a borrowed book; to return a hired horse.
2. To repay; as, to return borrowed money.
3. To give in recompense or requital.
In any wise, return him a trespass-offering. 1 Samuel 6:3.
The Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thy own head. 1 Kings 2:44.
4. To give back in reply; as, to return an answer.
5. To tell, relate or communicate.
And Moses returned the words of the people to the Lord. Exodus 19:8.
6. To retort; to recriminate.
If you are a malicious reader, you return upon me, that I affect to be thought more impartial than I am.
7. To render an account, usually an official account to a superior. Officers of the army and navy return to the commander the number of men in companies, regiments, etc.; they return the number of men sick or capable of duty; they return the quantity of ammunition, provisions, etc.
8. To render back to a tribunal or to an office; as, to return a writ or an execution.
9. To report officially; as, an officer returns his proceedings on the back of a writ or precept.
10. To send; to transmit; to convey.
Instead of a ship, he should levy money and return the same to the treasurer for his majesty’s use.
RETURN, n.
1. The act of coming or going back to the same place.
Takes little journeys and makes quick returns.
2. The act of sending back; as the return of a borrowed book or of money lent.
3. The act of putting in the former place.
4. Retrogression; the act of moving back.
5. The act or process of coming back to a former state; as the return of health.
6. Revolution; a periodical coming to the same point; as the return of the sun to the tropic of Cancer.
7. Periodical renewal; as the return of the seasons or of the year.
8. Repayment; reimbursement in kind or in something equivalent, for money expended or advanced, or for labor. One occupation gives quick returns; in others, the returns are slow. The returns of the cargo were in gold. The farmer has returns in his crops.
9. Profit; advantage.
From these few hours we spend in prayer, the return is great.
10. Remittance; payment from a distant place.
11. Repayment; retribution; requital.
Is no return due from a grateful breast?
12. Act of restoring or giving back; restitution.
13. Either of the adjoining sides of the front of a house or ground-plot, is called a return side.
14. In law, the rendering back or delivery of a writ, precept or execution, to the proper officer or court; or the certificate of the officer executing it, indorsed. We call the transmission of the writ to the proper officer or court, a return; and we give the same name to the certificate or official account of the officer’s service or proceedings. The sheriff or his subordinate officers make return of all writs and precepts. We use the same language for the sending back of a commission with the certificate of the commissioners.
15. A day in bank. The day on which the defendant is ordered to appear in court, and the sheriff is to bring in the writ and report his proceedings, is called the return of the writ.
16. In military and naval affairs, an official account, report or statement rendered to the commander; as the return of men fit for duty; the return of the number of the sick; the return of provisions, ammunition, etc.
RETURNABLE, a.
1. That may be returned or restored.
2. In law, that is legally to be returned, delivered, given or rendered; as a writ or precept returnable at a certain day; a verdict returnable to the court; an attachment returnable to the king’s bench.
RETURN-DAY, n. The day when the defendant is to appear in court and the sheriff is to return the writ and his proceedings.
RETURNED, pp. Restored; given or sent back; repaid; brought or rendered to the proper court or officer.
RETURNER, n. One who returns; one that repays or remits money.
RETURNING, ppr. Giving, carrying or sending back; coming or going back; making report.
RETURNING-OFFICER, n. The officer whose duty it is to make returns of writs, precepts, juries, etc.
RETURNLESS, a. Admitting no return. [Little used.]
RETUSE, a. [L. retusus, retundo.] In botany, a retuse leaf is one ending in a blunt sinus, or whose apex is blunt. This term is applied also to the seed.
REUNION, n.
1. A second union; union formed anew after separation or discord; as a reunion of parts or particles of matter; a reunion of parties or sects.
2. In medicine, union of parts separated by wounds or accidents.
REUNITE, v.t. [re and unite.]
1. To unite again; to join after separation.
2. In medicine, union of parts separated by wounds or accidents.
REUNITE, v.i. To be united again; to join and cohere again.
REUNITED, pp. United or joined again; reconciled.
REUNITING, ppr. Uniting again; reconciling.
REUSSITE, n. [from Reuss, the place where it is found.]
A salt found in the form of a mealy efforescence, or crystallized in flat six sided prisms, and in acicular crystals.
REVE, n. The bailiff of a franchise or manor. It is usually written reve.
REVEAL, v.t. [L. revelo; re and velo, to veil.]
1. To disclose; to discover; to show; to make known something before unknown or concealed; as, to reveal secrets.
2. To disclose, discover or make known from heaven. God has been pleased to reveal his will to man.
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Romans 1:18.
REVEAL, n. A revealing; disclosure. [Not in use.]
REVEALED, pp. Disclosed; discovered; made known; laid open.
REVEALER, n.
1. One that discloses or makes known.
2. One that brings to view.
REVEALING, ppr. Disclosing; discovering; making known.
REVEALMENT, n. The act of revealing. [Little used.]
REVEILLE, REVELLY, n. [L. vigilo. See Watch.]
In military affairs, the beat of drum about break of day, to give notice that it is time for the soldiers to rise and for the sentinels to forbear challenging.
[This word might well be anglicised rev’elly.]
REVEL, v.i. [L. rabo, rabio, to rage, whence rabies, rabid.]
1. To feast with loose and clamorous merriment; to carouse; to act the bacchanalian.
Antony, that revels long o’nights.
2. To move playfully or without regularity.
REVEL, n. A feast with loose and noisy jollity.
Some men ruin the fabric of their bodies by incessant revels.
REVEL, v.t. [L. revello; re and vello, to pull.]
To draw back; to retract; to make a revulsion.
REVELATION, n. [L. revelatus, revelo. See Reveal.]
1. The act of disclosing or discovering to others what was before unknown to them; appropriately, the disclosure or communication of truth to men by God himself, or by his authorized agents, the prophets and apostles.
How that by revelation he made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words. Ephesians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:1.
2. That which is revealed; appropriately, the sacred truths which God has communicated to man for his instruction and direction. The revelations of God are contained in the Old and New Testament.
3. The Apocalypse; the last book of the sacred canon, containing the prophecies of St. John.
REVELER, n. [See Revel.] One who feasts with noisy merriment.
REVELING, ppr. Feasting with noisy merriment; carousing.
REVELING, n. A feasting with noisy merriment; revelry. Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3.
REVEL-ROUT, n. [See Rout.]
1. Tumultuous festivity.
2. A mob; a rabble tumultuously assembled; an unlawful assembly.