| 释义 |
retreatn. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French retreit, retraite. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman retreit, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French retrait, retret (masculine) act of withdrawing (late 12th cent.), ebb (late 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman), a blow from a weapon in single combat (late 12th cent.; compare Old French, Middle French cop de retrait blow executed by pulling back one's weapon (also late 12th cent.)), refuge, signal to retreat in battle (all 13th cent.), waste, reject (late 13th cent.), private room (14th cent.), privy (1387), legal action by which goods which have been bought are withdrawn (1549; now obsolete), Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French retraite, Anglo-Norman retreite, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French retrete, Middle French retrette (feminine) act of moving back, withdrawal from a declared position, a blow from a weapon in single combat (end of the 12th cent.; with the latter compare cop de retraite (also end of the 12th cent.)), signal to retreat in battle (1213 in sonner la retraite ), refuge (c1470), (in architecture) recess (1549; 1481 in pierre de retraite ), action of withdrawing oneself from active or secular life (1580; French retraite ), uses as noun of the masculine and feminine of retrait , retreit , retret , etc., past participle of retraire retrait adj.; in Anglo-Norman the gender of the forms cited above is variable. Compare later retraite n., an independent reborrowing of French retraite (feminine), and also later retrait n., which probably shows reborrowing of Middle French retrait in a specific sense.Compare Catalan retret (masculine) withdrawal (13th cent.), private room (c1600), retreta (feminine) refuge (a1423), Spanish retrete (masculine) small, intimate room (1438), retreta (feminine) withdrawal (early 18th cent.; < French retraite ), Portuguese retrete (masculine) private room, lavatory (15th cent.; < Spanish retrete ), retreta (feminine) act of retiring, withdrawal, signal to retreat in battle, act of retreating in battle (19th cent.; < French retraite ), Italian ritratta (feminine) withdrawal, act of retreating on the battlefield, re-exportation of merchandise (a1348), ritratto (masculine) ritratto n. In early use in sense 4e in the name of the York Retreat (also known as The Retreat), an institution founded in York in 1796 by Quaker philanthropist William Tuke (1732–1822) with the aim of humane care of the mentally ill. the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > [noun] > a back-hand blow c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) 2537 (MED) Ascopard wiþ a retret Smot after Beues a dent gret. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) xv. 49 Thai..sic rowtis till othir raucht With stok, with stane, and with retrete, As athir part can othir bet. 2. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > [noun] > retiring, withdrawing, or retreating a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) viii. 2416 (MED) Er thou make eny suche assaies To love, and faile upon the fet, Betre is to make a beau retret. c1500 (?a1475) (1896) 1063 (MED) He [sc. virtue] was constreynyd clerely by duresse A lytyll tyne abak to make abew retret. 1580 T. Salter tr. F. Beroaldo f. 13v Because that bookes bee filled full with such thinges..I will as from superfluous matter, make my retreat. 1609 C. Tourneur sig. B1v Before it was too late to giue retreate To their proceedings. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. ii. 158 Come Shepheard, let vs make an honorable retreit . View more context for this quotation 1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 85 in The Rabble, who had put him to a Retreat with their stones. 1735 A. Pope 12 But Wisdom's Triumph is well-tim'd Retreat, As hard a Science to the Fair as Great! 1774 O. Goldsmith IV. 131 It requires some patience and skill to intercept their retreat. 1825 W. Scott 23 Mar. (1935) IX. 42 Seeing him in full retreat I then ventured to make the civil offer of a friends (?) dinner. 1838–9 F. A. Kemble (1863) 62 I..at length made good my retreat. 1852 R. C. Winthrop 527 Intended only to cover a virtual retreat from her agreement to enter upon negotiations. 1860 J. Tyndall i. xi. 66 If I could cross a certain crevasse, my retreat would be secured. 1887 11 171 A speedy retreat from an untenable position. 1953 J. Trench viii. 113 It [is] a good thing to look to one's way of retreat. Have you thought of that, my good Raffles? 1981 S. Rushdie 194 That's how it was; there can be no retreat from the truth. 2009 (National ed.) 24 May (Week in Review section) 4/1 The reconception of the magazine that can make reading it seem like small ball, a retreat from mass ambitions to a smaller, more rarefied civic niche. society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [noun] > retreat 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. lxxxvi. 110 Than all..lefte the assaut: in the retrayte ther were two knyghtes..taken. 1539 R. Morison tr. Frontinus iii. xvii. sig. Lii v After suspectynge some deceyte & gyle..and sowning to the retreat: The Numantines breakynge out, sette vpon them. c1550 (1830) i. 776 The trumpits blew to the retreit full loud. 1579 L. Digges & T. Digges 145 If the Enimie vpon our retreite pursue vs, the Generall muste giue order to lay..Ambushments of Shotte. 1614 W. Raleigh i. iv. ii. §4. 179 Old Souldiers are not easily dismaied: we reade in Histories..what braue retraits haue beene made by them. ?1614 G. Chapman tr. Homer i. 2 The loose bent of his will, In slaughtering Atrides in retreate. 1692 W. Temple Ess. Heroick Virtue vi, in (ed. 3) 297 The famous retreat of Xenophon..was made at the head of ten thousand Greeks. 1715 6 June 2/2 Col. Macky..meeting with such a warm Reception from the Enemy, was necessitated to make his retreat. 1797 XVI. 142/1 A good retreat is esteemed, by experienced officers, the masterpiece of a general. 1816 J. Scott vi. 133 Personal heroism..shewn by the commanders of our cavalry, who covered the retreat. 1841 M. Elphinstone I. v. iv. 615 He was so hard pressed on his retreat that he could not avoid an action. 1878 2 Feb. 6/2 The whole route of retreat is in all probability paved with their corpses before this. 1885 July 452/2 McClellan, if not always great in the advance, was most masterly in retreat. 1919 Aug. 262 Toward the end of May the retreat of Kolchak's forces in both the Kazan and Samara regions was reported. 1989 C. Harman iv. 201 Paris had been liberated and the German army was in retreat. 2002 R. Murphy (2003) 135 He served as an officer with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers during the British retreat from the Japanese army. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > [noun] 1594 G. Chapman sig. Bijv So to the chaos of our first descent,..We basely make retrait, and are no lesse Then huge impolisht heapes of filthinesse. 1595 G. Chapman sig. E2 [Echo] the selfe same way shee came doth make retreate, And so effects the sounde reecchoed. 1603 T. Powell sig. Bb Her resolution was Proponticke right, And forward stem'd against the Moones retreat. 1631 Earl of Manchester 27 They counted death but the retreite of life. 1664 H. King 71 Thus kiss I your fair hands, taking my leave..let Your discontents, and sowrer fate Remain with me, born off in my Retrait. 1781 E. Gibbon (1787) III. xxx. 159 The gradual retreat of the sea has left the modern city at the distance of four miles from the Hadriatic. 1815 W. Phillips 74 There have been successive irruptions and retreats of the sea. 1833 J. F. W. Herschel lvi. 215 The nodes of its [sc. moon's] orbit are in a continual state of retreat upon the ecliptic. 1885 R. S. Ball (1890) iii. 67 The terracing..is mainly due to the repeated alternate rise, partial congelation, and subsequent retreat of a vast sea of lava. 1936 P. R. Chalmers v. 107 With a flowing tide, the fowl sit ‘better bunched’ than they sit when a tide is in retreat. 1954 W. D. Thornbury viii. 201 The factors influencing the retreat of slopes are far more complex than is generally realized. 1970 R. J. Small xi. 388 If the ice is affected by episodes of retreat, separated by stillstands, a number of smaller, sub-parallel ridges (‘recessional’ or ‘stadial’ moraines) will be formed. 2005 E. J. Anthony in M. L. Schwartz 142/2 This shape illustrates the more severe retreat that affects the beach just downdrift of such structures. the world > the universe > heavenly body > movement of heavenly bodies > [noun] > set 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. xvii. xviii. 522 All other sorts [of trees]..are to be planted in mid-Winter, namely, after the retreat of the starre called Sagitta. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. 557 In Greece and Asia, they sow all indifferently at the retrait or occultation of Vergiliæ. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > [noun] > actions 1734 A. Mahon tr. Labat xi. 34 The second Retreat after having pushed, is made by drawing back the Right-foot about the Length of the Shoe. 1809 J. Roland vi On the Retreat. This motion is only just the contrary to that of the advance, being made by carrying the left foot..in a line backward [etc.]. 1861 G. Chapman ii. 47 (note) By feigning to recover in withdrawing the body by a spring of the knees termed ‘the retreat of the body’. 1892 L. Rondelle 10 The legs adjust the equilibrium of the body, always prepared for the retreat or the advance. 1915 R. Senac & L. Senac 47 The left foot is moved back one step in the retreat which is naturally the opposite to advance. 2002 E. Cheris i. 11 Remember that your front foot, which finishes the retreat, needs to feel like it moves faster and a shorter distance than the rear foot, which starts the retreat. society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > prices of stocks and shares > fall or tendency to fall 1916 20 Apr. 18/2 Next to the retreat of the stock market the development of the day..was the movement of reichsmark exchange. 1939 26 Oct. 13/2 Yesterday was a day of great oscillation in the markets, but it was encouraging to find that on balance there was no retreat. 1949 25 Mar. 21/2 A retreat of close to 10% occurred, on the average, in common stock prices. 1986 9 July 44/1 The loss is the greatest ever in terms of points for two consecutive sessions and represents a retreat of 4.29 percent. 2009 (Nexis) 18 Apr. b12 The Taiex index lost 4 per cent yesterday, the biggest retreat since Jan. 15. the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of horses > [noun] > disorders of feet or hooves > caused by shoeing c1465 (Yale Beinecke 163) f. 51v A retrete is when a nayle is smete [i.e. smitten] in the pulle of the fote and it maketh a hors to halt. 1566 T. Blundeville Order curing Horses Dis. cxlviii. f. 101v, in Of a Retreate... This is the pricking of a nayle, not well driuen in the shooing, and therefore pulled out agayne by ye smith. 1595 J. Florio 430/2 Trattamessa, the pricking of a nail, or retreate in a horse. 1610 G. Markham ii. xcv. 382 A Retrait is when a horse by the ill gouernment of the smith, is prickt in the foote with some ill driuen naile, yet in such sort that it is immediatly espied, and the naile drawne backe againe. 1673 R. Almond xxv. 261 This Retrait is the worst of all pricks, in as much as the flaw cankereth by remaining in the foot. ?1715 A. S. 86 Of the retreat or clogging the Foot with the Prick of a Nail. 1735 II Retraits, or Pricks; if a prick with a nail be neglected, it may occasion a very dangerous sore. 4. the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > refuge or shelter > [noun] > a place of refuge 1481 W. Caxton tr. (1893) cxlviii. 220 Somme they slewe and many moo toke prysonners, and bonde them, and retorned to theyr retrayte. 1490 (1962) liii. 204 Noo housyng nor no retrayt was nyghe..where they myght be lodged. 1587 R. Greene sig. F2 Tyme is a retrayte from vanitie and vyce. ?1591 R. Bruce v. sig. T7v And quhat is the best pillar & surest retreat, quherupon sick a saul..may repose? 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas ii. i. 359 Making our Ile a holy Safe-Retreat For Saints exilde in Persecutions heat. 1626 C. Potter tr. P. Sarpi 99 The Capuchines..could not finde..any conuenient retrait, so as many of them died for want of sustenance. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis x, in tr. Virgil 537 Let my Body have, The last Retreat of Human Kind, a Grave. 1751 S. Johnson No. 146. ⁋7 Nor is it certain, that even of these dark and narrow habitations, these last retreats of fame, the possession will be long kept. 1769 ‘Junius’ (1772) II. xxxv. 36 The mistakes of one sex find a retreat in patriotism; those of the other in devotion. 1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre (1799) III. 592 This territory might be..transferred to the unfortunate of all Nations, to serve them as a retreat. 1840 C. Thirlwall VII. 227 To make themselves masters of a part of the southern coast of Asia Minor, so as to provide a retreat for either in case of need. 1855 T. B. Macaulay IV. xix. 243 That the building commenced by Charles should be completed, and should be a retreat for seamen disabled in the service of their country. 1905 Baroness Orczy iv. 32 The aristocratic French comtesse with her two children, who had just escaped from such dire perils, and found a safe retreat at last on the shores of protecting England. 1944 C. Beaton Diary 13 July in (1979) xiv. 142 For Simla is not only a retreat from the heat of the plains but has become a great resuscitation and leave-centre. 1988 A. Storr vii. 107 The development of an imaginary world can sometimes serve as a retreat from unhappiness. the world > space > place > [noun] > set apart or out of the way society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > retirement or seclusion > secluded place or place of seclusion > [noun] society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > types of room generally > [noun] > private or inner room c1500 (?a1437) (1939) xcvi (MED) In a retrete lytill of compas, Depeyntit all with sighis..Fond I Venus upon hir bed. c1500 (1895) 294 (MED) Þey conduyted hym vnto a leghe nygh to the sayd geauntis retrette or pryue dwellyng. 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac II. 156 I am promised a retreate three miles from Bloys. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil 128 With spreading Planes he made a cool retreat, To shade good Fellows from the Summer's heat. View more context for this quotation c1709 M. Prior 16 Holy Retreat! Sithence no Female hither..Must dare approach. 1766 in H. Ellis (1827) 2nd Ser. IV. 487 I still long after a retreat somewhere about you, or in Normandy, if a proper place could be found. 1832 E. Bulwer-Lytton I. i. x. 162 But note how far more pure and lovely are its waters in these retreats. 1850 H. T. Cheever v. 85 Into this odorous retreat it is the duty of one man immediately to descend. 1869 H. F. Tozer I. 54 Hermitages and retreats existed there at a very early time. 1910 F. W. Cornish I. xii. 244 [He] migrated with a few disciples..to some cottages which he had fitted up at Littlemore near Iffley as a religious retreat. 1942 G. M. Trevelyan x. 337 A little way off lay the village of Chelsea, where a few persons of fashion had taken the fancy to build themselves retreats. 1972 R. Lane Fox I. iii. 54 Alexander and his friends were sent to the lowland town of Mieza where they could learn in a peaceful retreat of grottoes and shaded walks. 2002 D. Aitkenhead viii. 87 It styled itself as a retreat for the higher class of traveller who had come to experience a culture, as distinct from a discount economy. the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > privy or latrine > [noun] 1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais xl. 180 The jakes and retreats of a house. 1730 A. Brice 68 Depriv'd E'en of a Jakes Retreat, whose foul Abyss..How glad I'd risque to fathom! the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > a secret place, hiding place > [noun] 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil 133 Worms that shun the Light, a dark Retreat Have found. 1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage I. iii. ii. 190 Two of their troops conducted us to Leon, the third went and destroyed our retreat. 1774 O. Goldsmith IV. 131 At no time are they found at any great distance from their retreats. 1832 R. Lander & J. Lander I. v. 201 In my progress I disturbed a tiger-cat from his retreat among the rocks. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. iii. 285 It was often found impossible to track the robbers to their retreats among the hills. 1874 T. Hardy II. xiv. 172 It was a sparrow just waking. Next: ‘Chee-weeze-weeze-weeze!’ from another retreat. It was a finch. 1907 ‘O. Henry’ (1913) xix. 306 The opposing force..waited, concealed by beer barrels, until Calliope had passed their retreat, and then peppered him from the rear. 1967 N. E. Hickin xii. 225 The larvae have been frequently observed to reverse their position in the retreat for a short period. 2001 84 386/1 Walked to the web, located the spider in its retreat, and marked the web-site with surveyor tape. the world > health and disease > healing > places for the sick or injured > [noun] > hospital or infirmary > hospital for the mentally ill 1796 (title) State of an institution near York, called the Retreat for persons afflicted with disorders of the mind. 1813 S. Tuke (title) Description of the Retreat, an institution near York, for insane persons of the Society of Friends. 1834 R. Southey Let. 2 Oct. in C. C. Southey (1850) VI. 245 Yesterday I deposited my dear wife in the Retreat for Lunatics, near this city[i.e. York]. 1850 4 ‘Claxton Grange Retreat’, near York, has been licensed..for private and pauper patients. 1879 c. 19 §3 ‘A retreat’ means a house licensed..for the reception, control, care, and curative treatment of habitual drunkards. 1911 III. 188 The state board of charities..is hereby empowered to license any home, retreat or other asylum devoted to the sole purpose of keeping and caring for such decrepit or mentally enfeebled persons. 1987 40 469 Founded in 1796, the Retreat was an example of the emergence of the asylum in Britain. 2009 (Nexis) 16 Jan. He's opened Montrose Place..[in] upper Bishopscourt. It's a retreat where wealthy addicts can try to get themselves back on track. 5. Military. society > armed hostility > military organization > signals > signal [verb (transitive)] society > armed hostility > military organization > signals > [noun] > signal to retreat 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine f. lxx v/2 Thenne Ioab tromped and blewe the retrayt. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) xvii. 471 Qwhen thai had blawen the ratret. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. ccxxi. 287 Than they caused their trumpettes to sowne the retrayt. 1556 J. Heywood lvi At retret of trompet, they retyred a meyne. 1592 T. Kyd i. sig. A4v Our Trumpeters were chargde to sound retreat. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden ii. 136 Soone after by his bagpipers [he] sounded the retraite. 1655 T. Fuller i. 9 The trumpet of Antiquity, sounding at the same time a March & Retreit. 1688 R. Holme (1905) iii. xix. 153/2 The drumer is to beat all maner of beats, as a Call, a Troope, a March,..a Retreit, a Tato, and a Revally. 1694 R. South II. 476 Deception..sounds a Retreat instead of a Charge. 1719 T. D'Urfey II. 270 Blow a Retreat blow, blow, Tantivee. a1736 R. Kane (1745) 121 Colonel gets a Drum by him, who is now to beat the Retreat. 1791 A. Yearsley 65 Sound a swift retreat, And with your terrors aid the blast. 1839 A. Somerville xix. 379 Some of his men who he supposed had not heard the retreat. 1871 R. W. Buchanan iii. 372 Hark how a melody thin Sounds the retreat from within. 1911 Jan. 47/2 When they order me to beat the retreat I will beat the charge, see if I don't! 1984 18 Aug. 16/2 One day, retreat will be sounded and then I don't want to be hindered by no plurry horse! 2006 D. Winters & C. C. Kingseed i. 7 My body was half-dead and my brain stopped functioning about the time that Retreat sounded. society > armed hostility > military organization > signals > [noun] > signal on instrument > specific signals 1600 W. Shakespeare iv. ii. 69 Prince. Haue you left pursuit? West. Retraite [a1616 Retreat] is made, and execution stayd. View more context for this quotation society > armed hostility > military organization > signals > [noun] > signal on instrument > signal on drums 1706 (new ed.) Retreat, a retiring, or going away... Also a beat of Drum so call'd. 1753 Suppl. (at cited word) Retreat..is a beat of the drum in the evening, at the firing of a piece called the warning piece. ?1797 (title) The much admired Austrian Retreat—which they play at sunset. 1822 213 The Retreat is to sound or beat at Sun-set, after which no Trumpet is to sound,or Drum to beat, in the Garrison. 1835 J. Blakiston II. xix. 304 We landed just in time to hear the band playing the Retreat, before the house of the commandant... To listen to the music was quite a treat. 1876 G. E. Voyle & G. de Saint-Clair-Stevenson (ed. 3) 340/2 The term retreat is given to a bugle-sound, followed by a roll of the drums..; it is sounded every day at sunset. 1930 Rawalpindi Week Programme in C. Allen (1977) viii. 123 Wednesday... The Drums of the Border Regt. will beat ‘Retreat’ on the Club lawn. 1942 29 48/1 The band takes an important part in..the retreat ceremony, military funerals, and religious services. 1994 R. Preston 154 From the loudspeaker came a roar of a cannon and then the bugle music of ‘Retreat’,..and the soldiers lowered the flag while the officers came to attention and saluted. 2000 A. C. Harrison (2003) 81 The company returned from exercises just before retreat. 6. a1500 (Trin. Cambr.) 3944 (MED) Into A chambre ther made he retret, hit unshit entring, the dore after drew. 1608 E. Grimeston tr. J. F. Le Petit xiv. 1071 The king who since his retreat from the court of France..went vsually to the exercise of the Romish religion. 1617 F. Moryson i. 231 The Italian Friers haue chambers of retreat within the Church, in which we did eate and rest. 1646 in (1880) 116 I lyke not your retreate, and will not forbeare to dissuade it. 1651 I. Walton Life of Wotton in H. Wotton sig. c5v [He] freely gave his Crown..to Philip his son, making a holy retreat to a cloysterall life. 1719 D. Defoe 123 That Walk was..divided into six equal Parts, which serv'd not only for Retreat, but to store up any Necessaries which the Family had occasion for. 1738 A. Pope 7 In the clear, still Mirrour of Retreat, I study'd Shrewsbury, the wise and great. 1769 ‘Junius’ (1772) I. i. 14 No expence should be spared to secure to him an honourable and affluent retreat. 1800 Marquess Wellesley Let. 5 Mar. in (1877) 652 Such persons..retain their stations under the orders..prohibiting the grant of pensions of retreat to the civil service. 1818 Chron. 125/2 Art. 5. and 6 relate to the establishment of seminaries and houses of retreat for superannuated ecclesiastics. 1855 T. B. Macaulay III. xii. 168 His death, which took place not long after his retreat from public life. 1870 C. Dickens xvii. 133 An air of retreat and solitude hung about the rooms, and about their inhabitant. 1934 J. B. Priestley xi. 359 This retreat of the wealthier and more conservative classes from a full urban life in the provinces. 1963 65 290 During the rainy season, and the holy time of the year.., monks are supposed to confine themselves to the kyaung, and pious laymen go into retreat. 1989 14 98 His retreat to the countryside did not take him to ‘Bière above Lake Geneva’ but to Gennersbrunn. 2009 (Nexis) 28 June 41 With such talent, why did he seek retreat so desperately? the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > refuge or shelter > [noun] > seeking refuge society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > retirement or seclusion > [noun] > the or an act of 1589 G. R. tr. King Henry III of Navarre 5 You may vnderstand of your deputies, which are in those prouinces, where they of the religion haue had some places of retreate. 1698 J. Fryer 44 They..have these places as sure Asylums of Retreat. 1716 Lady M. W. Montagu 8 Sept. (1965) I. 259 I saw the great Towns..famous for the retreat of the Imperial Court, when Vienna was beseig'd [sic]. 1761 XVIII. 101 Whither it is pretended, that a certain Archbishop of Mentz made his retreat to avoid those vermin which followed him thither. 1820 J. Keats Lamia i, in 4 From high Olympus had he stolen light,..and made retreat Into a forest. 1842 Oct. 225/2 Entering into those places which providence may provide and present for our safety: yet in our retreat to these, we ought first and principally to enter by faith into Christ. 1882 M. Creighton I. 68 (margin) Retreat of Clement VII. to Avignon. June 10, 1379. 1912 B. H. Roberts in J. Smith Introd. xv. p. xxxviii A respite would have been gained from impending violence, during which arrangements for the retreat of the Saints from Illinois could have been completed. 1987 E. Vigil-Piñon 62 Ensconsed in the comfort of an easy chair a haven of retreat is the home where feelings of security surge. 2004 xvi. 464/2 Reignition is prevented,..and the hazard is faced until retreat to safe haven is reached. society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > contemplation or meditation > [noun] > period of 1740 Countess of Pomfret Let. 20 Dec. in (1805) II. 214 The sacred cells, and all the managery Of holy nuns in their retreats, I see. 1756 26 342 Such retirement being in the language of Roman Catholics called a retreat, and on the last day of such a retreat Bower writes his letter. 1793 Bp. Douglas in B. Ward (1905) iv. 45 Père Beauregard gave a Retreat to the French clergy resident at London in Lent... I..closed the Retreat with solemn Benediction and Te Deum. 1826 W. Poynter in B. Ward (1912) III. xliv. 183 The missionaries who come to the college for the Retreat. 1862 11 Apr. There was some hope of a retreat being held for laymen in London. 1874 in R. G. Wilberforce (1882) 56 (note) When the Retreat was over..the Bishop of Capetown, who had been present throughout the Retreat, sent to the college. 1917 (United Free Church Scotl.) Jan. 10/1 The series of ‘retreats’ or conferences which are being held for ministers and missionaries throughout the country. 1977 28 Mar. 56/1 The November day I visited was the first day of a semisilent dathun (month-long retreat). 1995 Sept. 10/4 Way of the Monasteries—This is the path of reflection and retreat. Members might go on retreat for up to two years, focusing entirely on their own spiritual growth. 1961 9 Apr. 4/1 Unlike the classroom, the retreat offers long, sustained periods of time dedicated exclusively to the interests and problems of the students. 1970 12 Nov. 25/1 Participants at the weekend retreat..returned their attention to the Black Agenda, the whole thrust of which is empowerment and enrichment of Black people. 1990 R. MacGregor 12 They have come from a life of courses; from work management retreats to Tuesday night golf lessons. 2007 (Nexis) 15 June The former president has earned huge fees from speeches at trade meetings, motivational events and corporate retreats. the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > [noun] a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara (1539) 118 Forgette not the honestie that ought to be in a Romayne woman, nor retrayte that is requisitte in a wydowe. 1632 R. Burton (ed. 4) iii. ii. ii. iv. 495 With a regaining retrait, a gentle reluctancy, a smiling threat. the world > action or operation > amending > restoration > [noun] > return to a previous better state 1600 sig. A4v This [reconciliation] ioyes my soule, and more to let you know How pleasing this retrait of peace doth seeme. the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > [noun] ?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer (new ed.) i. 59 As now Ægisthus,..to shunne his ill, Incurr'd it..In slaughtering Atrides in retreate. society > law > transfer of property > types of transfer > [noun] > conveyance of an estate tail > recovery ?c1682 J. Warburton (1822) 90 Retreat of inheritance is taken from the custom of Normandy. ?c1682 J. Warburton (1822) 91 The next of kin shall have but a year and a day to bring his enrollement, and if he neglects that time, he will be excluded from his retreat. 1751 T. Dicey 51 The Courts of Heritage hold Plea of Confession of Rents denied, or Deliverance of Lands detained; of Renunciation of Inheritance; and of Retreats by Lineal Descent. 1836 J. Bowditch ii. 51 Retreat of Inheritance is, where a man sells, or in any way alienates, his inheritance, (except by giving to rent at full value); the next of kin..to the seventh degree..may redeem the inheritance. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > other elements > [noun] > niche 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot ii. 145 There are six Figures on each side..and as many on the border in right Angle: all this in retreat. 1723 E. Chambers tr. S. Le Clerc I. 96 A little Indenture or Retreat, BC, not exceeding a Minute in depth. 1728 E. Chambers (at cited word) Where the Foundation is very large, they usually make two or three Retreats. 1859 F. A. Griffiths (1862) 269 The retreat or lessening, has a width of 1 foot. 1913 F. Bond I. Gloss. p. xxxiv Retraite, a story in retreat. 1916 R. Sturgis I. v. ii. 312 The entablature of this order forms a ressaut on each front and is marked by a retreat. 1996 L. Collard tr. P. Sellar 84 The remainder of the facade, slightly in retreat from the street, blends in with the neighbouring buildings. Phrases 1589Places of retreate [see sense 6b]. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny II. 143 A city..into which the sicke and feeble souldiers of our armie were conueied, as to a place of retreat and repose. 1678 tr. L. de Gaya ii. 116 Donjon, a place of Retreat in a Town or Place, to capitulate in with greater security in case of Extremity. 1769 W. Falconer at Close-quarters They are used as a place of retreat when a ship is boarded by her adversary, and are..fitted wit several small loop holes, through which to fire. 1828 J. S. Sebright (new ed.) 41 The wood, which is their place of retreat, must be so situated as to oblige them to fly against the wind. 1860 J. Abbott iv. 102 Holes and caverns which the animals make as places of retreat from their enemies when they are alarmed. 1915 W. Cather ii. v. 196 The Institute proved..a place of retreat, as the sand hills or the Kohlers' garden used to be. 1964 18 74 Cults of saints..created a sort of fashion for inaccessible places of retreat. 2008 (Nexis) 30 Apr. y2 Renovations to provide a comforting and safe place of retreat for children staying at Penelope House. Compounds1783 19/2 At the time you went to the Retreat House, you say you positively refused to have any thing to do with the capitulation. 1836 M. Monk xvi. 150 Private accommodations,..which is a room set apart on purpose for the accommodation of the priests, and is called a retreat-room. 1842 W. Wordsworth Guilt & Sorrow xx, in 15 One who, forced from storms to shroud, Felt the loose walls of this decayed Retreat Rock. 1920 J. F. Briscoe in 182 There ought to be a retreat-house in every diocese. 1958 14 Feb. 10/3 With its membership growing, part of the accommodation in the retreat house has had to be taken to house the brethren. 2008 B. Mayhew et al. (Lonely Planet) (ed. 7) 240/1 In the hills above the Humla Bazaar are many retreat caves formed around the cliffside. C2. 1754 W. Faucitt tr. vii. v. 165 The sentries of the Picquets, and Quarter-guards call out every quarter of an hour after retreat-beating. 1756 G. Washington Orders 10 Apr. in (1983) II. 347 Richard Denny is to receive his punishment at Retreat-Beating to night. 1841 Mar. 380 A drawbridge, which was raised at retreat beating. 2007 A. C. Migliazzo vii. 260 Lincoln also regularly required the firing of all guns that could not be drawn in the evening before retreat beating. 1908 July 627 The retreat centres are at Alken, province of Limburg,..and Fayt in the Hainault. 1971 P. G. Hiebert iii. 43 Some have widespread followings and may maintain retreat centers or āshrams where their disciples congregate. 1997 (Nexis) 24 July (Extra section) 1 A retreat center for people who want to get away from it all, to witness nature's cycles, to learn how to have fun in their gardens. 2007 5 Jan. 16/2 A quiet garden is simply somewhere beautiful where people can take time out to rest and pray, whether in a private home, a retreat centre, or an inner-city area. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022). retreatv.1Origin: Probably a borrowing from French. Etymons: French retreiter; French retrait. Etymology: Probably partly < Anglo-Norman retreiter, Middle French retraiter, retraitier, retraitter, retrater to reconsider (late 12th cent. in Old French), to withdraw, retract (a statement) (1268 in Anglo-Norman), to revoke, annul (early 14th cent.), (of troops) to withdraw (a1400), to withdraw (troops) (c1440; this French verb is probably partly < retreit , retrait , past participle of retreire , retraire (see below), and partly < classical Latin retractare retract v.2); and partly < retrait, retreit, retret, past participle of Anglo-Norman and Old French retreire , retrere , Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French retraire , Anglo-Norman and Middle French retrer to shrink, contract (end of the 11th cent. in Old French), to tell, relate (c1100), to resemble (1125), (reflexive) to keep away, to avoid, to renounce (all mid 12th cent.), to break (a promise) (mid 12th cent.), to ebb, to remove, (reflexive) to take refuge (all second half of the 12th cent.), to exercise the legal right of retreat (1239), to recant (early 13th cent.), to pull (something) back, to turn back (all late 13th cent.), to leave (a thing), (reflexive) to refer to, to retire, (of nerves) to contract, retract (all late 14th cent.), (reflexive) to withdraw (oneself) from the secular world (late 15th cent.; French retraire ; < classical Latin retrahere retract v.1). Compare earlier retreat n. Compare retray v. and also retract v.1 and retract v.2 (see discussion at those entries), and also retrete v. and retreat v.2Cognate with French retraire are Old Occitan retraire , retrair retrar (transitive) to draw back, to turn away, to recount, to depict, to explain, to tell, to reproach, to impute, to resemble, (intransitive) to return, (reflexive) to withdraw (12th cent.), Catalan retreure , retraure to renounce (something), to cite, refer to, to tell, to draw (something) back, retract (something), (of troops, etc.) to move back to a position of safety, to rescue (something or someone) (c1250), Spanish retraer to tell, recount, to reproach, to move back (1200 or earlier), Portuguese retrair (13th cent.), Italian ritrarre (transitive) to report, tell, to draw back, retract, to make a portrait, to extract, to reproach, (intransitive) to inherit, (reflexive) to withdraw, take refuge (1313). With the disyllabic past tense and past participle forms in -t compare retray v. and see discussion at that entry. the mind > mental capacity > memory > effacement, obliteration > cancellation, revocation > annul, cancel, revoke [verb (transitive)] society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > sentencing > sentence [verb (transitive)] > remit a sentence or penalty c1443 R. Pecock (1927) 156 If any oþer dede or suffryng þan preier schulde haue place here forto retrete, reuoke or do awey in god þe seid jugement vpon vs into losse of blis..þilk dede myȝt be a deserving þat þe now bifore seid jugement schulde be reuokid. c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock (1921) 4 (MED) Enye erroure or heresie..if..it happe me to write..y schal be redi it to leeue, forsake and retrete mekely and deuoutli, at þe assignementis of myn ordinaries. 1497 in G. Neilson & H. Paton (1918) II. 84 Thai can nocht retret the act gevin..in this mater. 1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour l. 5776 in (1931) I. 369 That sentence sall nocht be retratit. 1556 Perth Guildry 17 Apr. in (1989) VII. 418/2 And to heir..the samyn cassit retraitit and annullit. 1568 (?a1513) W. Dunbar in W. T. Ritchie (1928) II. 149 Sa mony ane sentence, retreitit for to win, geir and acquentance. c1650 J. Row & J. Row (1842) 116 His excommunication wes..retraited upon certaine conditions. 1678 G. Mackenzie i. 6 The L. of Session thought it not derogatory from their honour, to retreat a sentence after debate. 1733 T. Salmon XIX. xxx. 62 He retreated and annull'd the said Marriage, and would not confirm it. 1767 A. Dick 20 Jan. 2 The same reduced, retreated, rescinded, cassed, annulled, decerned, and declared..void. 1822 Duke of Roxburghe in T. S. Paton (1856) VI. Suppl. 826 Your Lordships will observe, it is assumed that all those services, and retours, and decree, ought to be reduced, retreated, rescinded, cassed, annulled, decerned, and declared. 1850 c. 36 (Schedules) All that has followed or may follow on the same, ought and should be reduced, retreated, rescinded, cassed, annulled, decerned, and declared, by Decree of Our said Lords [etc.]. 2. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > cause to move back [verb (transitive)] > move or draw something backwards a1460 (Pembr. Cambr. 243) 2112 (MED) And this doyng, retretoete [read retrete] thi lifte horn Fer, al abak, and raunge it like a spere. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. cxc. 225 He retreated all his menne as soberly as he might. 1548 f. cxxiv He did what he might to retreate the souldiers. 1589 R. Greene 40 Thinking by retreating Terentia from the chace, to be mistresse of the game hir selfe. 1593 T. Nashe 34 b No relenting thought of mine, shall retraite you [sc. hands]. 1611 J. Speed vii. xliv. 378/2 Which..caused him to retrait his Host into a place of security. 1650 Earl of Monmouth tr. J. F. Senault 57 When Originall righteousness was retreated the Elements began to mutiny. 1719 D. Defoe 7 The most agreeable Life that..a Man always bred to Misfortunes was capable of being retreated to. 1720 D. Defoe i. 69 As they were wheel'd, or marched, or retreated by their Officers. 1864 Sept. 251/1 The Good Knight..was retreating his men steadily and in good order. 1906 I. Adams iii. 411 Then he retreated his force a little to allow Husain to lead the way toward Cufa. 2002 J. L. Haley ix. 130 The general himself was satisfied..to have the soldiers understand that he would retreat them as far as he had to in order to fight with advantage. society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (intransitive)] > retreat a1460 (Pembr. Cambr. 243) l. 1291 (MED) Oonly the clarioun the knyghtis signe is; Fight & retrayt and chace or feer or neer, The clarion his voys declareth cleer. a1460 (Pembr. Cambr. 243) 1840 (MED) If foomen fle, thei and horsmen the chase Go swift vppon, and ellis thei retrete And thorgh the frount indresse hem to their place. 1539 R. Morison tr. Frontinus iii. xi. sig. kiiii Whan Uiriatus retreatyng backe, had gone. iii. dayes iourneye, he wente the same ageyne in one daye, and..oppressed them. 1596 E. Spenser iv. vi. sig. F2v She him forced backward to retreat, And yeeld vnto her weapon way to pas. View more context for this quotation a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 156 in J. Ware (1633) The souldiers take hart and drive the Irish to retreit. 1648 in S. R. Gardiner (1880) 224 The enemy is retreated from Stanwicke this morninge. a1675 B. Whitelocke (1682) anno 1645 201/2 Major Blundell..came up, and charged the enemy, retreated and came on again. 1716 A. Pope tr. Homer II. v. 863 Slow they retreat, and ev'n retreating fight. 1762 L. Sterne VI. xxxiv. 137 We will..demolish..the rest, one by one,..as we retreat towards the town. 1802 C. James (at cited word) The several component parts of a line or battalion, which alternately retreat and face in the presence of an enemy. 1843 T. Carlyle ii. xiv. 146 King Henry and his force got safely retreated. 1846 H. H. Wilson II. vii. 286 He..is said..to have shed tears when he saw his troops retreat from the field. 1876 G. E. Voyle & G. de Saint-Clair-Stevenson (ed. 3) 341/1 To retreat with a harassed and broken army is the most difficult position a commander can be put in. 1942 16 May 32 The Air Force followed on their heels..leap-frogging over huge stretches of desert... As the armies retreated, they leap-frogged back again. 1989 J. Lingard i. 15 Everything was at sixes and sevens these days, with the Russians advancing and the Germans retreating and Latvians running hither and thither not sure where to go. 2006 Apr. 140 Little by little, air power drove them back. But as they retreated, the insurgents booby-trapped the cemetery with mines, rockets and IEDs. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [verb (transitive)] > tactics 1744 E. Hoyle Rules & Observ. for Playing Chess in 56 Never crowd your Game..so as to hinder your advancing or retreating your Men. 1847 H. Staunton 203 Provided Black retreats his B. to Q. Kt.'s 3rd. 1886 28 Aug. 235 He had no choice but to retreat the bishop. 1902 E. E. Cunnington (rev. ed.) 52 White would have done the same, compelling the B to retreat, and leaving himself with two well-placed centre Ps. 1973 30 June 11/3 Black's Queen would be attacked by the minor pieces and would have to retreat with loss of tempi. 2001 24 June i. 26/5 Kramnik was not obliged to retreat his knight..but he did not want to wait until Kasparov picked the best moment to drive it back. 3. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (reflexive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat 1495 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1495 §47. m. 28 Suche persones as so retret and absent theymself. 1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in 447/1 They flee by night and retrete themself in the darke. 1572 Deposition in (1892) 32 Therfore this deponent dyd retreat herself unto the other man, with whom she hath now married. 1614 W. Raleigh i. iii. v. §7. 55 Artaphernes..had no other hope of safetie, than by retraiting himselfe into the Castle. 1620 tr. G. Boccaccio I. i. i. f. 9v I am wholly to retreat my selfe from hence. 1782 F. Burney III. vi. ix. 333 The preparations..robbed him of the courage with which he began the assault, and evidently gave him a wish of retreating himself. 1848 tr. G. de Vinsauf in H. G. Bohn iii. iv. xxxiv. 256 He gave orders to destroy Darum, its walls and towers, and retreated himself to Jerusalem. 1901 K. P. Wormeley tr. R. L. de V. de P. d'Argenson 2 vi. 159 It is thought that M. de Machault is tired of..being the butt of public opprobrium; also that he does not choose to retreat himself in the affair of the clergy. 1990 P. McCarthy p. xiii Turning to more personal experiences and perhaps retreating himself, Melville returns to origins in Pierre, to the insane family and city. a1540 (c1460) G. Hay tr. 1763 Thus Nicolas was in the toun retretit. 1548 f. xxxv Then the kyng retreted to Gyngate. 1660 R. Boyle xvii. 126 There was some Air retreated thither that kept the Mercury out of the unreplenish'd space. 1667 J. Milton ii. 547 Others more milde, Retreated in a silent valley, sing With notes Angelical..Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall. View more context for this quotation 1695 J. Woodward 162 My Subject does not necessarily oblige me to look after this Water: or to point forth the place whereinto 'tis now retreated. 1727 E. Thomas Let. 27 June in (1735) I. To Rdr. sig. Av When I found my self plung'd into unforeseen, and unavoidable ruin, I retreated from the world, and in a manner buried my self in a dismal place. 1791 J. Smeaton §111 The stone vessels, if catched by a storm..retreat into Weymouth Harbour. 1831 R. Jameson (rev. ed.) II. 130 Yellow-rump Warbler... As December's snows come on, they retreat to the lower countries of the southern States. 1862 F. Browne III. iv. 75 Thin, plaise God, I'll wash my hands of her, and retrait to the porther's place Mr. Keightley's to get me in the London Bank. 1958 J. E. Morton i. 21 The veliger retreated from predators into its shell. 1987 R. Godden (1989) 39 I refuse to know anything. I am like a snail retreated into its shell. 2006 R. Chandrasekaran (2007) 2 When they grew tired, they retreated to their rooms to watch pirated DVDs. 1824 Suppl. VI. 339/2 He has perhaps occasion for something of the habit of retreating into his conscious dignity. 1830 M. A. Kelty 400 Ridley proposed no other plea, but retreated into silence and submission, as his only outward defence. 1864 J. McCosh in S. Charnock I. p. xxiv The painting makes him appear more heavy looking and sunken, as if he often retreated into himself to commune with his own thoughts. 1949 20 105 These adolescents seem to be in emotional contact with their environment and minimally to be adjusting by retreating to fantasy living. 1987 A. Miller (1988) i. 63 I suppose my sallies into Harlem began a pattern of retreating into myself when the competition had overwhelmed me. 2003 G. Sheppard xxxvi. 758 Because he overreacted so much, I didn't feel like talking about it. I just retreated. 4. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 242 Whyle that a man slepyth, al the wittis restyth; and than retretith the natural hette that spredyth abrode throgh al the body. 1548 f. cxixv The Englishemen.., beyng content with their prey and gayne, began to retraite toward the siege again. 1590 E. Spenser i. i. sig. A4v Yet wisedome warnes, whilest foot is in the gate, To stay the steppe, ere forced to retrate. 1642 H. More sig. Nv When base worms have eat His mouldring brains, and spirits have retreat From whence they came. 1672 N. Grew ii. 53 The remainder, though not united to it,..thus retreats, that is,..is in part carried off into the Cortical Body back again. 1769 ‘Junius’ (1772) I. xv. 100 You have now carried things too far to retreat. 1793 J. Smeaton (ed. 2) §241 The tide being then retreated. 1834 W. G. Simms II. i. 18 The maiden, who still preserved the lead, motioned him back, retreating herself, as she did so, into the cover of a small recess. 1843 Ld. Cockburn 14 Mar. (1874) II. x. 8 It may be predicted with absolute certainty that all these judgments will be retreated from. 1860 J. Tyndall i. xvi. 112 Sometimes..we were compelled to retreat to the highest cliffs. 1905 Baroness Orczy i. 9 When the old hag spoke of the plague, he retreated from her as fast as he could. 1948 P. Kavanagh vii. 155 The crowd shivered a little and retreated a few yards but when the priest went back to count the rest of the money everyone had moved forward again. 1970 June 103/3 [By 1794] glaciers in southern Alaska had begun to retreat from a maximum neoglacial position attained earlier in the 18th century. 2009 (Nexis) 14 June ‘You were my favorite actor,’ she said with a shy smile and quickly retreated toward the door. society > travel > aspects of travel > travel in specific course or direction > direct (one's course, steps, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > retrace (one's course or steps) 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas i. iii. 77 His dreadfull voice..toward the Cristall of his double source Compelled Iordan to retreat his course. 1858 J. Munsell 339/1 Hudson, having retreated his steps from Chesapeake bay, discovered another great bay, which has since acquired the name of Delaware. 1902 W. M. Sloane tr. E. Zola ii. i. 213 The Emperor..tranquilly retreated his steps, as if his only object had been to reconnoitre the position of the German batteries. 1625 Bp. H. King David's Enlargement 26 in Bp. H. King & J. King I retrait to my text in S. Ambrose his words. 1765 Advt. 45 Finding every thing he offered judiciously and sensibly refuted by several Members, he was obliged to retreat to his Speech in Writing. 1850 T. Parker tr. W. M. L. de Wette (ed. 2) I. ii. ii. i. 171 The Jews then retreated to the Hebrew text, that they might reply to the argument of their adversaries. 2010 L. F. Locke et al. (ed. 3) ix. 173 Was everything you needed to understand the findings easily available, or did you have to retreat to the text to retrieve explanatory information? the world > space > shape > unevenness > condition or fact of receding > recede or form recess [verb (intransitive)] 1792 H. Hunter tr. J. C. Lavater II. xvii. 404 This forehead retreats and bends in such a manner. 1808 R. Forsyth V. 416 The sea-coasts, where the mountains retreat from the margin of the water. 1863 N. Hawthorne I. 164 The forehead..retreats somewhat. 1878 R. B. Smith 230 Between these two points the hills retreat from the lake in the form of a semicircle. 1910 E. M. Forster xi. 88 The chin, though firm enough in outline, retreated a little. 1962 52 189/2 The median part of the bone retreating a variable amount. 1996 (Nexis) 23 July 2 Mr Spink has gradually diminished—his chin retreating, his voice declining—until he and his meagre name fit each other. 1909 11 Jan. 13/3 It is easy to understand why gas shares shrunk a quarter in their market price... If there is anything which needs illumination, it is the failure of the general market to retreat more decisively. 1918 H. S. Martin xv. 195 The short, however, being a compulsory buyer, is interested in seeing the market retreat further. 1949 29 Sept. 9/2 It is not surprising that equity shares retreated further on the Stock Exchange yesterday. 1989 (Nexis) 3 Nov. Tokyo stocks retreated as small-lot sellers..pushed down a wide range of issues. 2004 Aug. 38/3 As Asian shares retreated a bit recently, some stocks are becoming more attractive. 1605 Bp. J. Hall I. §10 Some promise what they cannot doe: as Sathan to Christ..Some, what they meant for the time; and after retrayt: as Laban to Iacob. the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > recourse > have recourse to [verb (transitive)] 1650 T. Fuller ii. xii. 260 Yet such as will justifie Ionathans act herein..must retrait to Divine inspiration. society > trade and finance > buying > buy [verb (transitive)] > buy back ?c1682 J. Warburton (1822) 91 A. does by reason of proximity, enroll himself to retreat such an inheritance as B. has purchased of C. his kinsman. ?c1682 J. Warburton (1822) 91 The next of kin to the seller shall have but a year and a day to retreat. 1751 T. Dicey 55 In two Cases, Houses or Lands thus given to rent, may be retreated, viz. One where the Value of five Sols, or more, is given by way of Fine. the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > reduce in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (transitive)] 1690 J. Locke ii. xvi. 99 And so again by subtracting an Unite from each Collection retreat and lessen them. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2022). retreatv.2 Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: re- prefix, treat v. Etymology: < re- prefix + treat v. Compare earlier retrete v. and discussion at that entry. the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > subject to action or operation > subject to a process > again 1543 G. Joye f. iij As the dore is turned and returned, so ar all his arguments & processe there vpon treated and retreated. 1844 10 307/3 What the alcohol contained, in solution, was also desiccated, and re-treated with hydrochloric acid. 1882 (U.S. Bureau of Mint) i. 462 No regular and systematic work has been accomplished for producing bullion except to re-treat old tailings. 1887 A. M. Brown ii. ii. 82 The tissue-residue is then retreated with alcohol at 99°. 1946 17 Aug. 243/1 Patients retreated for clinical failure showed a higher cumulative rate failing again than a comparable group of previously untreated secondary syphilis. 1967 73 517/2 Three of the 10 patients who were re-treated had a positive throat culture after their second course of therapy. 2001 17 Aug. 17/1 (advt.) Failure to re-treat will let weeds grow back, giving the remaining roots time to regenerate their reserves. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < |
