| 释义 |
retractation|riːtrækˈteɪʃən|
[ad. L. retractātiōn-em, noun of action f. retractāre retract v.2 and v.3 So F. rétractation, Sp. retractacion, It. retrattazione.]
1. pl. The title of a book written by St. Augustine containing further treatment and corrections of matters treated in his former writings.
1451J. Capgrave Life St. Aug. (E.E.T.S.) 31 All þis þing witnesseth him-selue in his first book of his Retractaciones. 1532More Confut. Tindale Wks. 733/2 Saynt Austyne..found no faut in that saieng when he was after bishop at the time of his retractacions. 1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iii. xx. 229 b, He telleth also in his seconde boke of Retractations that it was in his time receiued in Africa. 1614Raleigh Hist. World i. (1634) 20 St. Augustine..in his Retractations maintaineth the same opinion. 1651C. Cartwright Cert. Relig. i. 49 Saint Augustine had written so many errors, as occasioned the writing of a whole booke of retractations. 1888Salmon Infallib. Ch. xviii, St. Augustine's ‘Retractations’ does not mean retractations in our modern sense of the word, but a re-handling of things previously treated of.
b. Used similarly of other works. rare.
1583Fulke Def. Trans. Script. Answ. Pref. 54 The same Beda, in his preface vnto his retractation vpon the Acts of the Apostles.
†c. Rhet. (See quot.) Obs. rare—0.
1678Phillips, Retractation..in Rhetorick..is the same figure with that which is called in Greek Ploce.
2. a. Withdrawal or recantation of an opinion, statement, etc., with admission of error.
1548Elyot, Retractatio, a retractacion; a reuokyng of ones opinion. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 200 b, He had at the fyrste made hys retractatyon nothynge playnlye. 1643Digby Observ. Relig. Med. (1644) 98 What censure upon himselfe may wee expect..if euer hee make any retractation of this Discourse concerning his Religion? 1674Hickman Quinquart. Hist. (ed. 2) 24 Retractation is when a man out of conviction of judgement revokes his errour. 1752Carte Hist. Eng. III. 293 Such are the effects of forced retractations falsly termed conversions. 1839Hallam Hist. Lit. iv. iii. §31 He had been for many years..a favourer of Cartesianism, but his retractation is very complete. a1873S. Wilberforce Ess. (1874) II. 226 Their very retractations witness to the gradualness with which the new light dawned upon them.
b. Withdrawal from an engagement, promise, etc.
1654tr. Scudery's Curia Pol. 115 Faith is obligatory, and binding, and no retractation to be admitted. 1818Colebrooke Obligations 190 On the question of the right and effect of retractation, opinions of jurists differ. 1865Mill Liberty v, There are perhaps no contracts or engagements..of which one can venture to say that there ought to be no liberty whatever of retractation.
†3. ? Disinclination, reluctance. Obs. rare—1.
1563Winȝet tr. Vincent. Lirin. Wks. (S.T.S.) II. 70 Without al hæsitatioun or dout bayth lat it be maid patent, and without ony retractatioun be condemnit.
†4. ? A rejoinder, retort. Obs. rare—1.
1637Gillespie Eng. Pop. Cerem. iii. i. 15 If so, my retractation is, that if he be excused one way, hee must be accused an other way.
5. Retransformation. rare—1.
1836–7Sir W. Hamilton Metaph. xl. (1859) II. 406 We can only imagine this, as a retractation of an outward energy into power. |