1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. xii. 268 Shee was but in a deepe studie, and dumpish retracting [Fr. une retraicte] into her selfe.

1620 T. Venner Via Recta viii. 175 By reason of the retracting of the spirits to the head.

1707 W. Hope New Method Fencing iv. 131 This is to be done without the least Retracting of your Right Legg.

1798 W. Blizard Brief Explan. Nature of Wounds in Lect. Situation Large Blood-vessels (ed. 3) 60 The retracting of a vessel, or fainting, may suspend hæmorrhage, that may afterwards occur.

1838 A. Thomason Men & Things in Amer. vii. 88 Symptoms of life began to manifest themselves by a kind of spasmodic projecting and retracting of some of the sisters' toes.

1883 Microscopical News Sept. 249 This motion consists in the throwing out and retracting of blunt finger-like processes of sarcode.

1919 E. Wharton French Ways ii. 30 The retracting of an insect's feelers at contact with an unfamiliar object.

2002 M. Wyke Rom. Mistress viii. 291 The rhythmic thrusting and retracting of her ship's banks of oars.

a1624 R. Crakanthorpe Vigilius Dormitans (1631) xii. 160 Plainely calling that in the one place the anathematizing, and retracting of his Chapters, which in the other he called explaining or interpreting his Chapters.

1643 Declar. Commons conc. Rebellion in Ireland 26 These directions given by His Majesty for the retracting of this Order.

1729 W. Smith Literæ de Re Nummaria 262 This retracting of what I have said before, shews..the Weakness of my Memory.

1782 F. Burney Cecilia III. v. xi. 128 Cecilia had no time for retracting, and repentance they had not the delicacy to regard.

1820 R. M. Roche Munster Cottage Boy IV. v. 257 To some unavoidable circumstance..was owing the retracting of the promise he had given.

1870 E. P. Ramsay Hearts & Diamonds II. 156 ‘I could not, without behaving very badly, retract now.’ Mrs Vassall saw that retracting was the last thing in her thoughts.

1909 M. O. Wright Poppea of Post-office xv. 264 There was a request for forgiveness, not for the retracting of a promise so much as for the sense of injury that had made the promise possible.

1992 G. Swift Ever After v. 55 There has been no counter-reversal, no retracting of retraction.

1651 H. Parker Scotlands Holy War 53 They publish retracting contradicting Papers after the intermission of two years, and therein complain..that the L: Generall came in un-invited.

1682 J. Flavell Pract. Treat. Fear vii, in Two Treat. 119 Instead of returning a retracting or doubtful answer, Eulalia threw down the Idol, and spurnt abroad with her feet the heap of incense prepared for the censers.

1816 A. Bowen Naval Monument 163 He had previously declared that he had, ‘subsequently to the publication of the retracting article, ascertained, that the original statement was correct’.

1881 Mysore Law Rep. 4 327 In his retracting statement, he says, he had received it in pledge.

1972 Times 2 May 14/2 Would the courts follow custom and give precedence in a conflict of laws to the latest enactment of Parliament, and so uphold the retracting or contradicting statute.

2003 D. Nimmer Copyright i. 30 This retraction right..is also subject to the qualification that the retracting author must pay full compensation for pulling back interests that were previously granted.

1661 R. Boyle Some Considerations Style Script. 111 The forciblest Motives to the several Duties, and the most retracting Disswasives from the contrary Vices.

1797 W. J. Alldridge in Universal Merchant (Amer. ed. 1) Ded. p. iv Our enemies..yield their compulsive tribute with a retracting hand.

1851 Appletons' Mechanics' Mag. 1 Nov. 651/1 Each of the said thread-guides has one end of a retracting spring..attached to it.

1867 Cincinnati Lancet & Observer July 406 When adhesions take place the retracting capsule drags on the iris.

1913 M. Verworn Irritability ix. 256 The protoplasm of the retracting pseudopod forms balls and spindles.

1979 Amateur Photographer Feb. 62/1 The three cameras we're looking at this week..have pull-out or retracting lenses.

2001 B. Broady In this Block there lives Slag 201 Bouncer..would hand out rubber claw hammers and retracting screwdrivers to the thousands of tourists.