释义 |
▪ I. † reˈtract, n. Obs. [f. the verb, or ad. med.L. retractus.] 1. Retractation (of errors, statements, etc.).
1553Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 10 He wrytte also a Booke of retractes in whych he correcteth hys owne errours. 1584[R. Parsons] Leicester's Commonw. (1641) 29 For this cause hee hath his tearmes and pretences..of Contracts, Precontracts, Postcontracts, Protracts, and Retracts. 1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1199 Metaphors ænigmaticall, and covert words,..were but shifts, retracts and evasions. a1656Hales Gold. Rem. (1677) 22 St. Austine, in a retract, concludes we must despair of no man..as long as he liveth. 2. Retreat on the part of an army or force.
1587Holinshed Chron. III. 1431/1 Skinke was forced to give place.., and in his retract spoiled and burnt the countrie. 1601R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 177 He is constrained euen in the course of victory to sound the retract, and surcease his proiects. 1614Raleigh Hist. World iv. ii. §4. 179 These Græcians also that made the retract, aduised Darius to retire his Armie into..Mesopotamia. 3. That which is rejected; refuse. rare—1.
1575Fenton Gold. Epist. (1582) 169, I am..the reproch, retract, and shame of men, and the scorne of the people. 4. Farriery. = retrait n.1 5.
1727–38Chambers Cycl. s.v., When the farrier, in shoeing, perceives the horse to shrink at every blow on the nail; it is a sign of a retract. ▪ II. retract, v.1|rɪˈtrækt| Also 6 Sc. retrak. [f. L. retract-, ppl. stem of retrahĕre, f. re- re- + trahĕre to draw.] I. trans. 1. a. To draw or pull (something) back.
1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 59 The occean..auþer..flowethe furthe or retractethe the sees in to hit. 1597A. M. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 40 b/1 They retracte and drawe backe the humors which trouble those partes. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 231 The heat of the Ayre attracting the humours outward, and the action of the Medicine retracting the same inward. 1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. 869 He affirmed every Irrational Power or Soul, to be..Retracted and Resumed into the Deity. 1791Cowper Iliad xx. 396 From the shield, himself Of brave æneas the bright-pointed ash Retracting, placed it at Achilles' feet. 1830Herschel Study Nat. Phil. 334 Let the piston be suddenly retracted and the air restored to its original volume in an instant. 1846F. Brittan tr. Malgaigne's Man. Oper. Surg. 221 If you retract the skin dividing the cellular bridles [etc.]. 1874Masson Three Devils 92 The soul, retracting its thoughts from the far and physical, dwells disgustedly on itself. transf.1875Kinglake Crimea (1877) V. i. 311 The commander..retracted all at once the right shoulder and wheeled his squadrons half back. b. To draw back or in (some part of the body). Used esp. of lower forms of animal life, having parts or organs which may be protruded and drawn in again.
1664Power Exp. Philos. i. 8 [The butterfly's tongue] being drawn up into an Helix, and retracted into the mouth. Ibid. 36 The Eyes..are sheathed in her horns which she can retract or protrude. 1835–6Todd's Cycl. Anat. I. 297/1 Birds which have sharp claws..retract them when they hope to prevent their being blunted. 1851Richardson Geol. (1855) 293 The head is proportionally large, and cannot be retracted within the carapace. 1872Dana Corals i. 26 A kind of case or jacket, into which the upper extremity.. may be retracted. †c. To draw, bring, or call back (a person) from or to a place, or to reality. Obs.
1650Cowley Guardian iv. viii, When a dead man from Orcus I retract. a1652Brome New Acad. iii. i, My great love unto the Nation..Retracts me hither. 1656Stanley Hist. Philos. v. 150 It is the same in undistracted phantasy, which they admit, when there is nothing that can retract us. †d. To draw out of or up. Obs. rare.
1608Ussher's Lett. (1686) App. 20 A Knowledg..which Experience might produce, if we would assay to retract it out of Nature by particular Probations. 1698Phil. Trans. XX. 119 They may retract it up, and the easier, because passing over these Bones like a Pully, their force is more augmented. e. Phonetics. To pronounce (a sound) with the tongue drawn back.
[1889A. J. Ellis Early Eng. Pronunc. v. 17 In d 6, 7, the tongue is often merely retracted.] 1890H. Sweet Primer of Phonetics 73 The first element of the diphthong in high is retracted towards {mbwvow}. 1970M. Swanton Dream of Rood 33 CGmc. a fronted to early OE æ and retracted instead of broken before an l or l-group. †2. a. To delay or retard (one). Obs. rare—1.
1524State Papers Hen. VIII, VI. 364 The Duke and his armye was so tarded and retracted, that finally the French King..had leisour..to gadre strength. †b. To restrain; to hold back or prevent from some course. Also refl. and absol. Obs.
a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VII, 16 Whiche secret serpent caused their fury to wade farther then reason coulde retract or restreyne. Ibid. 16 b, Euery one wished that this tumult were retracted and quenched. 1568T. Howell Arb. Amitie (1879) 22 And let not want of welth in place Retract thy loue to runne his race. 1608Dod & Cleaver Expos. Prov. ix–x. 112 Godly men..haue sometimes a pronenesse and inclination to euill; yet they may be easily retracted by counsell and admonition. 1633Rowley Match at Midn. iii. i, He lookes..like one that could retract himselfe from his mad starts. 1670Conclave wherein Clement VIII was elected Pope 11 Hoping..by their presence and authority to retract some one from giving their Vote. †c. To restrict or limit to something. Obs.—1
1668H. More Div. Dial. Schol. (1713) 562 Therefore the seven Vials cannot be retracted to the sixth Trumpet, much less be coextended with the seven Trumpets. †3. a. To withdraw, remove, or take away (a person or thing). Obs.
1568T. Howell New Sonn. (1879) 155 When faithfull man hath thus long serued,..in them shall vice ingratytude, retracte his iust desarte. 1598Barret Theor. Warres iv. iii. 109 To retract and draw foorth of the squadrons, such men as be hurt. 1695Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth ii. (1723) 102 That Excess of Fertility..was retracted and cut off. 1728T. Cooke Hesiod, The Theogony 1057 Before the gates the son of Japhet stands, Nor from the skies retracts his head or hands. †b. To withdraw, turn away (the eye). Obs.—1
1637Heywood Pleas. Dial. xviii, Such admirable parts in all I spye, From none of them I can retract myne eye. II. intr. †4. To retire, retreat. Obs. rare.
1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 585 This ilk Malcolme than thocht he wald retrak Quhill on the morne, and hald the feild abak. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 698 They were fully determined, and bent to compell him to retract with dent of sworde. 5. To undergo or exhibit retraction; to admit of being drawn back.
1784Med. Comm. II. 12 The protrusion had entirely retracted within the os externum. 1846F. Brittan tr. Malgaigne's Man. Oper. Surg. 101 The cicatrix which forms.., spreading and retracting, would soon produce an adhesion almost equal to that divided. 1862Catal. Internat. Exhib. II. §2617 In non-military rifles, the foresight..retracts within a strong sheath. 1890Lancet 1 Mar. 454 It [the cut end of the bowel] was thus held in position, was prevented from retracting, and all bleeding points were secured at once. †6. To revert to (one). Obs. rare—1.
1783Chron. in Ann. Reg. 203/1 A very considerable tract of land in that district shortly retracts to government. Hence reˈtracting vbl. n.1 and ppl. a.
1620Venner Via Recta viii. 175 By reason of the retracting of the spirits to the head. 1661Boyle Style of Script. (1675) 111 The forciblest motives to the several duties, and the most retracting disswasives from the contrary vices. 1707Sir W. Hope New Method Fencing iv. 131 This is to be done without the least Retracting of your Right Legg. ▪ III. retract, v.2|rɪˈtrækt| [ad. L. retractāre, f. re- re- + tractāre to draw, pull. So F. rétracter, Sp. and Pg. retractar.] 1. trans. a. To withdraw, recall, revoke, rescind (a decree, declaration, promise, etc.).
1545Joye Exp. Dan. vi. 93 Here be emprour and kinges taught to retract and call in ayen their vniust lawes. 1594R. Ashley Loys le Roy 54 b, They haue power to retract the ordinances of the Sultans. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. iii. ii. vi. v. (1651) 581 Pope Gregory..retracted that decree of Priests marriages. 1654Bramhall Just Vind. i. (1661) 2 That our Kings..had power to revoke, retract and abrogate whatsoever they found..insupportable to their Subjects. 1786Burke Art. agst. W. Hastings Wk. II. 96 In that year, he..retracted his own act of resignation of his office. 1794Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxiii, Withdraw to your chamber before I retract my promise. 1814Scott Wav. lxv, Edward was desirous of retracting the suit he had made to his sister. 1847Mrs. A. Kerr tr. Ranke's Hist. Servia 256 A declaration of that nature might at any moment be retracted. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 7 The permission..has been given, and cannot be retracted. b. To withdraw (a statement, etc.) as being erroneous or unjustified.
1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 29 b, Yet wyll I retracte nothynge in these same. 1606Shakes. Tr. & Cr. ii. ii. 141 Were I alone.., And had as ample power, as I haue will, Paris should ne're retract what he hath done. 1647N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. lvii. (1739) 104 Quietly, said I? that I must retract; for he never had quiet during his life. 1703Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1732) 141 He both retracted his Apostacy and dyed to attone for it. 1750Johnson Rambler No. 31 ⁋16 As all error is meanness, it is incumbent on every man who consults his own dignity, to retract it as soon as he discovers it. 1879McCarthy Own Times xviii. II. 32 He had nothing, he said, to retract or to ask pardon for. †c. Chess. In a chess problem: to take back or unmake (a move). Obs.
1871Dubuque Chess Jrnl. 12 White retracts his last move and mates in 1 move. 1881F. C. Collins Sel. Chess Probl. 111 Retract White's last move, then White to play, and Mate in One move. 1890B. G. Laws Two-Move Chess Probl. iii. 16 Retract White's move by replacing White knight at K4, and Black pawn at QB4, then play P × P, en passant, discovering mate. 1907[see retractor 4]. 2. intr. a. To make withdrawal or disavowal (of a statement, opinion, error, etc.).
c1645Howell Lett. (1650) II. 2 If your spirit will not let you retract, yet you shall do well to repress any more copies of the satyr. 1675G. R. tr. Le Grand's Man without Passion 249 He retracts from his errors. 1742Young Nt. Th. iv. 398 What mean these questions?—Trembling I retract. 1833Lytton Eng. & English i. iv, The affront once given,..they fight first and retract afterwards. 1865Pusey Truth Eng. Ch. 74 When detected, he retracted. He acquiesced outwardly without giving up his belief. b. To draw back (from a promise, resolve, etc.).
1700Dryden Cymon & Iph. 252 Tho' both repenting, were by Promise bound, Nor could retract. a1735Landsdowne To Myra Poems (1790) 64 She will, and she will not, she grants, denies, Consents, retracts, advances, and then flies. 1808E. Sleath Bristol Heiress III. 320 Caroline had not retracted from her resolution. 1853J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. (1873) II. i. iii. 142 Alfonso of Portugal promised to join in a Holy War, and retracted. c. Card-playing. To draw back, change one's mind, after having agreed or declined to play with a certain hand.
1830‘Eidrah Trebor’ Hoyle Made Familiar 71 (Loo), No one can retract after declaring his intention to stand or not. 1878‘Cavendish’ Laws of Ecarté 11 The dealer having accepted or refused cannot retract. Hence reˈtracting vbl. n.2
1643Decl. Comm. Rebell. Ireland 26 These directions given by His Majesty for the retracting of this Order. 1874T. M. Brown Bk. Chess. Probl. 20 The Dubuque Chess Journal Tourney..for ‘retracting’ problems. ▪ IV. † reˈtract, v.3 Obs.—1 [ad. L. retractāre, f. re- re- + tractāre to handle.] trans. To repeat.
a1699Wodrow Soc. Select Biogr. (1847) II. 321 The office and acts of such, as ordination and baptism, though in themselves null, yet they are effectual to godly persons,..and, therefore, are not necessary to be retracted. |