Re*touch", n. (Fine Arts) A partial reworking,as of a painting, a
sculptor's clay model, or the like.
Re*touch"er (?), n. One who retouches.
Re*trace" (?), v. t. [Pref. re- + trace: cf. F. retracer. Cf. Retract.]
1. To trace back, as a line.
Then if the line of Turnus you retrace, He springs from Inachus of
Argive race.
Driden.
2. To go back, in or over (a previous course); to go over again in a
reverse direction; as, to retrace one's steps; to retrace one's
proceedings.
3. To trace over again, or renew the outline of, as a drawing; to draw
again.
Re*tract" (r*trkt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retracted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Retracting.] [F. rétracter, L. retractare, retractatum, to handle
again, reconsider, retract, fr. retrahere, retractum, to draw back. See
Retreat.] 1. To draw back; to draw up or shorten; as, the cat can
retract its claws; to retract a muscle.
2. To withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take back; as, to
retract an accusation or an assertion.
I would as freely have retracted this charge of idolatry as I ever
made it.
Bp. Stillingfleet.
3. To take back,, as a grant or favor previously bestowed; to revoke.
[Obs.] Woodward.
Syn. -- To recall; withdraw; rescind; revoke; unsay; disavow; recant;
abjure; disown.
Re*tract", v. i. 1. To draw back; to draw up; as, muscles retract after
amputation.
2. To take back what has been said; to withdraw a concession or a
declaration.
She will, and she will not; she grants, denies, Consents, retracts,
advances, and then files.
Granville.
Re*tract", n. (Far.) The pricking of a horse's foot in nailing on a
shoe.
Re*tract"a*ble (-*b'l), a. [Cf. F. rétractable.] Capable of being
retracted; retractile.
Re*tract"ate (?), v. t. [L. retractatus, p. p. of retractare. See
Retract.] To retract; to recant. [Obs.]
Re`trac*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. rétractation, L. retractatio a
revision, reconsideration. ] The act of retracting what has been said;
recantation.
Re*tract"i*ble (?), a. Retractable.
Re*tract"ile (?), a. [Cf. F. - rétractile.] (Physiol.) Capable of
retraction; capable of being drawn back or up; as, the claws of a cat
are retractile.
Re*trac"tion (r*trk"shn), n. [Cf. F. rétraction, L. retractio a drawing
back, hesitation.] 1. The act of retracting, or drawing back; the state
of being retracted; as, the retraction of a cat's claws.
2. The act of withdrawing something advanced, stated, claimed, or done;
declaration of change of opinion; recantation.
Other men's insatiable desire of revenge hath wholly beguiled both
church and state of the benefit of all my either retractions or
concessions.
Eikon Basilike.
3. (Physiol.) (a) The act of retracting or shortening; as, the
retraction of a severed muscle; the retraction of a sinew. (b) The
state or condition of a part when drawn back, or towards the center of
the body.
Re*tract"ive (?), a. Serving to retract; of the nature of a retraction.
-- Re*tract"ive*ly, adv.
Re*tract"ive, n. That which retracts, or withdraws.
Re*tract"or (-r), n. One who, or that which, retracts. Specifically:
(a) In breech-loading firearms, a device for withdrawing a cartridge
shell from the barrel. (b) (Surg.) An instrument for holding apart the
edges of a wound during amputation. (c) (Surg.) A bandage to protect
the soft parts from injury by the saw during amputation. (d) (Anat. &
Zoöl.) A muscle serving to draw in any organ or part. See Illust. under
Phylactolæmata.
Re*traict" (r*trt"), n. Retreat. [Obs.] Bacon.
Re*trait" (r*trt"), n. [It. ritratto, fr. ritrarre to draw back, draw,
fr. L. retrahere. See Retract.] A portrait; a likeness. [Obs.]
Whose fair retrait I in my shield do bear.
Spenser.
Re`trans*form" (?), v. t. To transform anew or back. --
Re`trans*for*ma"tion (#), n.
Re`trans*late" (?), v. t. To translate anew; especially, to translate
back into the original language.
||Re*trax"it (?), n. [L., (he) has withdrawn. See Retract.] (O. Eng.
||Law) The withdrawing, or open renunciation, of a suit in court by the
||plaintiff, by which he forever lost his right of action. Blackstone.
Re*tread" (?), v. t. & i. To tread again.
Re*treat" (?), n. [F. retraite, fr. retraire to withdraw, L. retrahere;
pref. re- re- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Retract, Retrace.]
1. The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what
is dangerous or disagreeable.
In a retreat he o&?;truns any lackey.
Shak.
2. The place to which anyone retires; a place or privacy or safety; a
refuge; an asylum.
He built his son a house of pleasure, and spared no cost to make a
delicious retreat.
L'Estrange.
That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat From sudden April
showers, a shelter from the heat.
Dryden.
3. (Mil. & Naval.) (a) 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. (b) The withdrawing of a
ship or fleet from an enemy for the purpose of avoiding an engagement
or escaping after defeat. (c) A signal given in the army or navy, by
the beat of a drum or the sounding of trumpet or bugle, at sunset (when
the roll is called), or for retiring from action.
A retreat is properly an orderly march, in which circumstance it
differs from a flight.
4. (Eccl.) (a) A special season of solitude and silence to engage in
religious exercises. (b) A period of several days of withdrawal from
society to a religious house for exclusive occupation in the duties of
devotion; as, to appoint or observe a retreat.
Syn. -- Retirement; departure; withdrawment; seclusion; solitude;
privacy; asylum; shelter; refuge.
Re*treat" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Retreated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Retreating.] To make a retreat; to retire from any position or place;
to withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field.
The rapid currents drive Towards the retreating sea their furious
tide.
Milton.
Re*treat"ful (?), a. Furnishing or serving as a retreat. [R.] "Our
retreatful flood." Chapman.
Re*treat"ment (?), n. The act of retreating; specifically, the Hegira.
[R.] D'Urfey.
Re*trench" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retrenched (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Retrenching.] [OF. retrenchier, F. retrancher; pref. re- re- + OF.
trenchier, F. trancher, to cut. See Trench.] 1. To 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.