retirev.

Brit.

/rᵻˈtʌɪə/, U.S.

/rəˈtaɪ(ə)r/,

/riˈtaɪ(ə)r/

Forms:

α. Scottish pre-1700 retarie (perhaps transmission error), pre-1700 reteare, pre-1700 reteere, pre-1700 reteire, pre-1700 reter, pre-1700 retere, pre-1700 reteyre, pre-1700 1700s reteir.

β. 1500s–1600s retier, 1500s–1600s retyre, 1500s– retire; Scottish pre-1700 retyre, pre-1700 1700s retier, pre-1700 1700s– retire.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French retirer.

Etymology: < Middle French, French retirer to pull or draw (something) back (12th cent. in Old French), to remove, withdraw (something from someone) (13th cent.), to remove (someone from a particular place or position), to free (someone from captivity), to keep (something) in reserve, to deter or turn (someone) aside (from a vice, etc.) (all 15th cent.), also (reflexive) to withdraw, go away (end of the 14th cent.), to go off to somewhere peaceful or secluded, to withdraw somewhere for protection, (in military context) to retreat (all 15th cent.), (reflexive, of the sea) to ebb (c1500), (reflexive with de ) to give up (a habit, etc.) (1508), (reflexive with de ) to cease to perform or pursue (a specified activity, mode of employment, post, etc.) (1538), (reflexive with de ) to cease to frequent (someone) (1553) < re- re- prefix + tirer tire v.² Compare Old Occitan retirar , Spanish retirar (15th cent. or earlier), Portuguese retirar (1567), Italian ritirare , †retirare (1313). Compare retirement n., retire n.¹, retiring n.The senses of the French word (and hence of the English word) show many points of connection with those of retraire (see retreat v.¹); French retirer also shows a number of senses not paralleled in English, especially senses related to the core meanings ‘to take back, take away, remove’. In modern French the meanings ‘to leave employment’ and ‘to withdraw (something) from service’ are usually expressed by constructions with retraite retreat n., rather than with retirer . In sense 1c after Italian ritirarsi , †retirarsi (reflexive) to give ground before one's opponent (16th cent.). With sense 7 compare earlier retire n.¹ 1a.

a. intransitive. Of an army, troops, etc.: to fall back or give ground, esp. when confronted by a superior force; to retreat. Also with from, to.Also transitive (reflexive) in earlier use.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (intransitive)] > retreat

withdraw1297

recoilc1330

faila1400

rere?a1400

give way1413

ruse?a1425

retreata1460

to leave place1487

wandis1487

settle1513

retire1533

retrace1539

dismarch1596

to come off1600

to fall back1602

retraicta1604

give grounda1616

recline1789

exfiltrate1980

1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. ii. xxvi. 236 He had commandit his army to retere abak fra þe tentis of Inemyis.

1537 Bp. S. Gardiner Let. 19 Oct. (1933) 79 The Turke retyred himself without doing any notable acte, wherby he hath lost his reputacion.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxxiii^v By little and little they retire and on the bridge ouer the Rhine they foughte a longe time.

1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Hist. Descr. Worlde 160 In their encounters..they retire as repulsed, for feare so to draw their enemies within danger.

1650 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1842) III. 125 He reteared a little which they behind took for a flight.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 106 The vanquish'd Bull..from his proud Foe retires .

1717 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) III. 20 About as many Indians, from whom they retired.

1743 Pitt in J. Almon Anecd. (1810) I. v. 121 The French not only re-passed the Rhine, but retired quite out of Germany.

1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 248 If a line with reserves, finds it necessary to retire in face of an enemy; the alternate squadrons and reserves will retire two or three hundred paces, and then front.

1840 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VII. 121 They soon found themselves threatened with violence, and obliged to retire.

1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 363/1 The task of a rear guard retiring before a victorious enemy..is one of the most delicate of operations.

1920 Amer. Jrnl. Internat. Law 14 106 As soon as the Serbian troops began to retire, the Bulgars..launched the attack which eventually led to the complete subjugation of Serbia.

1957 W. S. Churchill Hist. Eng.-speaking Peoples III. vii. v. 127 Lack of numbers and organisation compelled the British force to retire at the end of the campaign.

2000 J. M. Anderson Hist. Portugal vii. 128 He was defeated at the frontier fortress of Almeida..and his forces retired to Buçaco near Coimbra.

b. transitive. To pull back (an army, troops, etc.), esp. when confronted by a superior force; to order to retreat.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (transitive)] > retreat to > withdraw (troops)

retire1548

exfiltrate1980

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xix^v Thus beyng tossed from countrey to countrey, from hill to vale,..withoute vitayle or succour, he was of necessitie compelled to retire his armie.

1550 Reg. Privy Council Scotl. I. 86 That his Hienes had..thairthrow constrenit thame to retere the maist part of thair army.

1597 T. Beard Theatre Gods Iudgements i. xxix. 167 Whilst their Embassadours were retiring their garrisons out of Misia..hee set forward his armie.

a1648 Ld. Herbert Life Henry VIII (1649) 393* He appointed him twenty dayes time to retire his Army out of Piedmont.

1693 tr. J. Le Clerc Mem. Count Teckely iv. 39 The General Veteranie..retired all his Troops to Nissa.

1744 J. Bancks Hist. Life & Reign Wiliam III ii. 43 As soon as the Infantry of the Confederates were retir'd, the French fell with redoubled fury upon the Spanish Horse.

1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 186 The Half Squadrons..may be retired at any named distance behind each other.

1813 R. Wilson Private Diary (1862) II. 456 The enemy had retired their centre and left, so that the engagement on these points commenced necessarily later.

1841 C. J. Lever Charles O'Malley liii The French were soon seen to retire their heavy guns.

1897 E. Wood Achievem. Cavalry i. 16 No cavalry can be expected to fight if it is retired at speed with an enemy at its heels.

1914 Christian Sci. Monitor 12 Sept. 1/7 We captured 50 guns and several thousand prisoners, but retired the flank when the advance of strong hostile columns was reported.

2004 R. H. Harrell 2nd N. Carolina Cavalry ii. 93 By the afternoon Hooker himself was across the ford, and during the stormy night of May 5, Hooker retired his army back across the river.

c. intransitive. Fencing. To give ground before one's opponent; to take one or more steps backward.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > fence [verb (intransitive)] > actions

traversea1470

to hold one's handa1500

flourish1552

lock1579

to come in1594

retire1594

pass1595

recover1600

redouble1640

allonge1652

caveat1652

parry1671

disengage1684

overlap1692

volt1692

tierce1765

whip1771

wrench1771

lunge1809

salute1809

riposte1823

cut1833

quart1833

repost1848

remise1889

1594 I. G. tr. G. di Grassi True Arte Def. N 4 b The enimie hath no other remedie to safe himselfe, then to retire backe.

1595 V. Saviolo Practise i. * 4 b To hit and retire is not discommendable.

1705 H. Blackwell Eng. Fencing-master (new ed.) v. 17 No more [than two feints] are convenient, except your Adversary retires on a good Guard, and you approach on him.

1707 W. Hope New Method Fencing iv. 122 It will be fit for you to retire a little with a single Step.

1765 D. Angelo School of Fencing (ed. 2) 58/1 If you should not have room to retire, you may lean your left hand on your hip, and keep your sword in a continual circle parade.

1861 G. Chapman Foil Pract. ii. 39 Advance one pace as I retire..; retire in quarte.

1889 W. H. Pollock et al. Fencing (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) vi. 106 Fencers of this kind hope to force the adversary to retire.

1960 C.-L. de Beaumont Fencing iii. 115 The wide target to be protected requires that he should be able to retire with equal rapidity.

1999 A. Skipp Handbk. Foil Fencing Gloss. 85 Retire, to step back.

†a. transitive. To move (a person or thing) away, esp. for safety or storage; to lodge, store. Also with in, into, to. Also figurative. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > remove or take away

ateec885

withbreidec890

animOE

overbearOE

to do awayOE

flitc1175

reavec1175

takec1175

to have away?a1300

to draw awayc1300

weve13..

to wend awaya1325

withdrawa1325

remuec1325

to carry away1363

to take away1372

waive1377

to long awaya1382

oftakec1390

to draw offa1398

to do froa1400

forflitc1420

amove?a1425

to carry out?a1425

surtrayc1440

surtretec1440

twistc1440

abstract1449

ostea1450

remove1459

ablatea1475

araisea1475

redd1479

dismove1480

diminish?1504

convey1530

alienate1534

retire1536

dimove1540

reversec1540

subtractc1540

submove1542

sublate1548

pare1549

to pull in1549

exempt1553

to shift off1567

retract?1570

renversec1586

aufer1587

to lay offa1593

rear1596

retrench1596

unhearse1596

exemea1600

remote1600

to set off1600

subduct1614

rob1627

extraneize1653

to bring off1656

to pull back1656

draft1742

extract1804

reef1901

1536 King Henry VIII Let. 1 Nov. in Camden Misc. (1992) XXXI. 56 Beinge now advertised that the..rebelles be againe disparked and retired to theire houses.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xix. 22 b The gouernours lodging,..hauing vnderneath it the cellars to retyre the munition, could not be repayred.

1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 362 The Valachies before his comming, had retired their wiues and children..into their strong citties.

1664 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense 75 in Sylva Retire your choice Greens, and rarest Plants..into your Conservatory.

1690 Lady Russell Lett. I. 68 Happy are those whom God retires in his grace.

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 24 When they [sc. the guests] had been retir'd, Lodgings provided for them as well as our Ship would allow, and they had slept heartily.

b. intransitive. To move back or away. Also figurative and transitive (reflexive).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)]

reversec1450

recoil1483

back1486

regressa1525

retire1542

flinch1578

retrograde1613

recur1616

retrocede1638

ravel1656

backen1748

regrede1800

regrade1811

retrogress1812

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat

withdraw1297

recoilc1330

give place1382

arrear1399

to draw backa1400

resortc1425

adrawc1450

recedec1450

retraya1470

returna1470

rebut1481

wyke1481

umbedrawc1485

retreata1500

retract1535

retire1542

to give back1548

regress1552

to fall back?1567

peak1576

flinch1578

to fall offa1586

to draw off1602

to give ground1607

retrograde1613

to train off1796

to beat a retreat1861

to back off1938

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes ii. f. 290^v How muche better had it been for me, to haue been born a poore mans chyld, if I shal neuer obtein to retire from the cures of warfare.

1549 T. Cooper Lanquet's Epitome of Crons. f. 254^v Euerye bowman shoulde prepare him a sharpe picked stake, and..to pitche the same before him and sodeynly to retyre backe, shooting wholye together with great violence.

1594 S. Daniel Delia & Rosamond sig. G4 What stand you now amaz'd, retire you back?

c1600 A. Montgomerie Poems (2000) I. 101 Bright Titan to the Tropiks that reteirs.

1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies iii. ix. 145 The farther we go into the sea, and retyre from land, the more we are touched and dazeled with this sicknes.

1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 ccxlv. 62 Th'amazed flames stand gather'd on a heap; And from the precipices brinck retire.

1750 M. Towgood Dissenting Gentleman's Postscript 38 He came near again,..and seeing the Wine, let fall the Cover again, retired back, and bowed as before.

1788 A. Hughes Henry & Isabella IV. 208 She was scarce retired with her mother, before the counsellor..was desired to walk into his chamber.

1840 D. Walker Defensive Exercises 106 Greater flexibility is allowed to the right leg in moving forward to gain distance upon an adversary, or..in retiring from his reach.

1853 D. Rock Church our Fathers III. ii. 194 Both the acolytes..retired themselves into the choir.

1867 H. Macmillan Bible Teachings vi. 116 As science advances superstition retires.

1930 D. L. Sayers Strong Poison xx. 255 Bunter, who having introduced her, retired to a position on the fringe of the assembly and hovered there looking correct.

1963 A. Moorehead Cooper's Creek xv. 199 In the Cambrian age such a sea extended south from the Gulf of Carpentaria over western Queensland and South Australia, and even when this sea retired a great lake remained in the centre.

1999 H. Adams Many Pretty Toys 53 Then we retired slowly and aimlessly back toward our homes, looking back from time to time at the retreating figures.

†c. transitive. To retrieve or remove (a person) from a place of danger or hardship; to save. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > rescue or deliver (from) [verb (transitive)]

areddec885

leeseOE

reddOE

winc1220

deliver?c1225

ridc1225

quita1250

betellc1275

casta1300

to cast outa1300

liverc1330

rescuec1330

wrechec1330

borrowc1350

to put out of ——c1350

to bring awaya1400

redea1400

wreakc1400

rescourec1425

rescousa1450

savec1480

relue1483

salue1484

redeem1488

recovera1500

redressa1500

eschewc1500

rescours1511

to pull (also snatch) out of the fire1526

recourse1533

withtakec1540

redeem1549

vindicate1568

retire1578

repair1591

reprieve1605

to bring off1609

1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 51 Gif ȝour grace..wald Reteir ȝour Sone fra the Gallous agane, Than [etc.].

a1586 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David (1823) xl. i Me..From dungeon he retired, Where I in horrors lay.

1614 in G. G. Smith Bk. Islay (1895) 181 Use all..dexteritie to reteir saulflie out of thair handis the laird..and the bischop.

d. transitive. To withdraw or remove (an object, quality, etc.) from notice; to hide. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > privacy > make private [verb (transitive)]

close1430

retire1605

imprivacya1670

recess1795

background1891

1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Ee2^v For that tendeth to demonstrate, and illustrate that which is taught..this other to retire and obscure it.

1826 Monthly Rev. 1 469 This doubtless would be the safest means of ensuring to them a happiness, which should be retired and concealed, as it were, in the details of domestic life.

1893 Harper's Mag. Dec. 161 To retire your comely features in the meshes of a veil.

1899 J. A. Hobson John Ruskin 123 Professors Marshall and Sidgwick retire this ‘fundamental proposition on capital’ into the obscurity of foot-notes.

1921 Addr. & Proc. 59th Ann. Meeting National Educ. Assoc. U.S. 495 Retire to obscure corners, or to a separate room if possible, all obsolete and dead material.

a. intransitive. To retreat to a place for seclusion, security, or privacy. Usually with from, into, to, etc. Also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > retirement or seclusion > seek seclusion [verb (intransitive)]

withdrawc1385

to renounce the worlda1425

retirea1538

sequester1627

secede1755

to do (also pull) a Garbo1932

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 99 Certayn monasterys..to the wych al such..may retyre, & from the besynes & vanyte of the world may wythdray themselfe.

?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. 78 Scotlond..whereunto noe small number of fugitives wear retiered.

1610 J. Healey tr. St. Augustine Citie of God i. ii. 3 A..foe, that would spare any that they found retired into the temples of their gods.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. i. 11 On safegard he came to me..: he is retyred to Antium.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 161 If you be pleas'd, retire into my Cell, And there repose.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 253 Seeking mee, who then Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd .

1685 E. Stillingfleet Origines Britannicæ iv. 185 Those were called Monks at Rome, who had no Office in the Church, but yet retired from the common Emploiments of the World for Sacred Studies and Devotion.

1704 J. Norris Ess. Ideal World II. xiii. 571 The most natural way for the discovery of truth, is, instead of going abroad for intelligence, to retire into ourselves.

1716 C. Johnson Cobler of Preston ii. 40 I'll retire from this vile World, like a Peace-making Minister; and pass the rest of my Days in Solitude and Sleep.

1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall IV. xli. 154 The abdicated monarch retired..to a life of peace, of affluence, and perhaps of content.

1830 Ld. Tennyson Ode to Memory v, in Poems 64 Whither in after life retired..We may hold converse.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 267 He..therefore, when the Rye House plot was discovered, thought it expedient to retire to the Continent.

1883 M. Oliphant Hester III. vii. 135 She would retire from the fray. She would clothe herself in double armour of stoicism, and teach herself to see the humour in this.

1959 T. Shebunina tr. A. Tolstoy Peter the First ii. v. 592 To mark his resentment Nektary retired into an earth-hole where he remained in perpetual silence for two years.

1991 P. Barolsky Why Mona Lisa Smiles 94 When he speaks of Michelangelo retreating to Camaldoli, he reflects upon his own frequent visits to this holy place—to retire from the noise of the world, from the strains of court life.

2008 Evening Herald (Ireland) (Nexis) 17 Dec. Deciding it was all getting a bit too much for him,..the singer retired to the more secluded and relaxed Library area.

b. transitive (reflexive) in same sense. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (reflexive)]

fersec1000

teec1275

voida1387

withdraw1390

takea1393

avoida1400

devoida1400

shifta1400

avyec1440

trussa1450

deferc1480

remove1530

convey1535

subtractc1540

subduce1542

retire?1548

substract1549

room1566

to take off1620

to make oneself scarce1809

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (reflexive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat

recovera1470

umbedrawc1485

recoil1490

retreat1495

retire?1548

retray1562

?1548 in A. I. Cameron Sc. Corr. Mary of Lorraine (1927) 239 I..hes mellit sa far thairin [sc. affairs of the realm] that I cwld nocht retyre me from daly service bwt..jopart off my honour.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccclvij^v The spoylers were wont to escape that waye, and to retyre them selues out of daunger.

1620 R. Brathwait Ess. Fiue Senses 76 Yet was that Power but an idle God, louing his rest and quiet, and retyring himselfe from the care of man or his affaires.

1635 J. Hawkins tr. P. Aretino Paraphr. Seaven Psalmes Prol. (Psalms vi) 4 Moreouer he retired himselfe into an obscure place vnder ground, as it were a prison of his sinne.

1650 J. Row & J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842) 488 Some fled to Ingland, some reteered themselves and keeped quyet.

1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 6. ⁋9 My desire..has been..to retire myself to some of our American plantations.

?1793 Minutes Evid. before Comm. Privileges 256 To reteir himself to live in Ireland.

1842 W. Hazlitt tr. M. de Montaigne Wks. Pref. p. viii I lately retired myself to my own house..to spend in privacy and repose the little remainder of time I have to live.

1884 W. Besant Dorothy Forster I. vii. 195 After making Rome the metropolis of the whole world, by a voluntary exile to retire himself from it, and to end his days in his own secluded villa.

1910 J. Bookwalter Rural versus Urban (1911) v. 66 Does not man, indeed, seek the true light and highest spirit of devotion by wholly retiring himself from the active world, and through solitary worship?

a. intransitive. Chiefly with to (also into). To return to a place visited habitually or frequently, typically for rest or relaxation.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat > to one's usual place or way of life

retire1539

1539 R. Morison tr. Frontinus Strategemes & Policies Warre iii. sig. Iiiii ^v Scipio..began to assaute the other townes. and whan eche man was retired home to the defence of his owne, he toke Delminum, voyde of succours.

1554 J. Proctor Hist. Wyates Rebellion f. 15 The Herauld staied & did his message there... Which..was promise of pardone to as many as would retire to their houses..& become good subiectes.

1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) iii. 171 b It is his part, being retired into his owne house, to looke more pleasantly vppon them.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. viii. sig. T3^v Life ere long shall to her home retire.

1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage ii. xx. 223 The Emperour requested his helpe, to cause him to retire to his den.

1695 W. Congreve Love for Love iii. i. 52 I'll retire to my own Chamber, and think of what you have said.

1710 Tatler No. 157. ⁋3 I was no sooner retired to my Lodgings, but [etc.].

1754 W. Dodd Sisters I. ii. i. 64 Let me advise you to retire home and sleep, and in a little time I'll wait upon you.

1774 D. Jones Jrnl. (1865) 114 When retired to my bed-chamber, thoughts crowded into my soul.

1820 Edinb. Mag. & Literary Misc. Dec. 488/2 Mrs Siddons..was allowed three pauses of half an hour each, when she retired into an adjoining room to refresh herself.

1837 M. W. Shelley Falkner I. vii. 138 She found that he had come back, and was retired to his room.

1850 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis II. i. 7 Harry..retired to his own apartments, where he stretched himself on his ottoman.

1920 H. Stuck Winter Circuit Arctic Coast v. 212 When all the others were retired to their quarters we had the spacious, well-lit chamber to ourselves.

1957 N. Coward Diary 1 Dec. (2000) 368 I have my suite at the Algonquin to retire to in between the shows on matinée days, and everything is jogging along.

2000 Guardian 28 Dec. ii. 7/5 Most of us retired to the TV room for the afternoon to watch the Green Mile.

b. transitive (reflexive) in same sense. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > aspects of travel > return > return to [verb (transitive)]

recovera1425

retire1539

1539 Chron. of Calais (Camden) 170 The king's..pavilion, and certain others for other noble personages, to retire themselves into after they shalbe presented to his highnes.

1578 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 12 To depairt thame..furth of..Edinburgh..and..to reteir thame to thair awn dwelling places.

1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 58 You will please to retire your Selfe to your Closet.

1659 A. Hay Diary (1901) 50 I..then retired myself to my preparatioun and weeklie search, and had a very comfortable allowance in some meditations.

1715 Friendly Epist. One of People called Quakers 22 She retired herself into her Closet, and spent many Hours lamenting the Divisions of the Land.

1815 W. Wilberforce Let. 17 Dec. (1846) II. 165 I shall retire myself into my own room, and pray earnestly for you.

1894 K. P. Wormeley tr. H. de Balzac Catherine de Medici viii. 181 Hearing these words, the provost-marshal signed to the executioner and retired himself to the inner room.

1900 Trans. Kansas State Hist. Soc. 4 262 When day broke Walker ordered his men to scatter, and retired himself to the house of a friend to sleep.

c. To go to bed or rest.

(a) intransitive. With to.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > bed related to sleep or rest > go to bed or retire to rest [verb (intransitive)] > having withdrawn from company

retire1567

1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 115^v The seruantes were retired to reste [Fr. se fassent retirez, It. si ritirassero], who for the most parte laye out of the house that night.

1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania 180 When each retired to their rest, shee went vnto her watch of endlesse thoughts.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 611 All things now retir'd to rest Mind us of like repose.

1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada ii. iv. iii. 133 Let him in pity, now, to rest retire.

1730 H. Fielding Rape upon Rape ii. xi. 28 She had taken Leave of me to retire to Rest.

1775 A. Burnaby Trav. Middle Settlements N.-Amer. 83 At their usual time the old couple retire to bed.

1813 H. Shelley in E. Dowden Life Shelley (1886) I. 352 On Friday night..we retired to bed between ten and eleven o'clock.

1867 Criminal Chronol. York Castle 175 The wife of the deceased, thinking him late, retired to rest.

1881 H. James Portrait of Lady I. vii. 82 She retired to rest with a sense of good fortune.

1918 J. M. Barrie What Every Woman Knows i. 20 The Wylies should have retired to rest without lifting that piece of coal off the fire.

1973 P. Campbell 35 Years on Job 130 My wife and I had retired to bed at the comparatively early hour of 5.30 p.m.

2000 J. Harris Blackberry Wine (2001) xxv. 128 Before retiring to his camp bed he inspected his ankle again.

(b) intransitive. Without construction.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > bed related to sleep or rest > go to bed or retire to rest [verb (intransitive)]

to go to (one's) resteOE

to take (one's) restc1175

to go to bedc1275

to lie downc1275

reposec1485

down-lie1505

bed1635

to turn in1695

retire1696

lay1768

to go to roost1829

to turn or peak the flukes1851

kip1889

doss1896

to hit the hay1912

to hit the deck1918

to go down1922

to bunk down1940

to hit the sack1943

to sack out1946

to sack down1956

1696 C. Trotter Agnes de Castro v. i. sig. G^v 'Tis late, my Son, I'll leave you to retire, This Day's Fatigue, and Grief, requires some Rest.

1752 H. Fielding Amelia IV. x. iii. 36 They then sat down to half an Hour's chearful Conversation; after which they retired all in the most perfect good Humour.

1775 C. Johnston Pilgrim 181 Our fatigue making us want rest more than any other refreshment, we soon retired.

1823 T. Moore Mem. (1853) IV. 72 The rest of the day he is at the disposal of everybody, and rarely retires at night till others do.

1861 O. W. Holmes Elsie Venner xxv. 280 At an hour when most of the Rockland people had ‘retired’, or, in vulgar language, ‘gone to b—d’.

1886 E. Dowden Life Shelley I. 67 When the college clock struck two, Hogg would rise..and retire for the night.

1919 J. Reed Ten Days that shook World v. 112 Hundreds of thousands of people retired at a prudent hour, got up early, and went to work.

1942 E. Langley Pea-pickers iii. xix. 290 Tired out, they retired early and lay in their beds, fully clothed, even to hats and leggings.

2000 Chicago Sun-Times (Nexis) 9 June 42 It feels good to retire at night not having to worry about bills.

a. intransitive. To move to another place; to go away, depart, leave. Also with from, to. Also figurative and transitive (reflexive).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)]

wendeOE

i-wite971

ashakec975

shakeOE

to go awayOE

witea1000

afareOE

agoOE

atwendOE

awayOE

to wend awayOE

awendOE

gangOE

rimeOE

flitc1175

to fare forthc1200

depart?c1225

part?c1225

partc1230

to-partc1275

biwitec1300

atwitea1325

withdrawa1325

to draw awayc1330

passc1330

to turn one's (also the) backc1330

lenda1350

begonec1370

remuea1375

voidc1374

removec1380

to long awaya1382

twinc1386

to pass one's wayc1390

trussc1390

waive1390

to pass out ofa1398

avoida1400

to pass awaya1400

to turn awaya1400

slakec1400

wagc1400

returnc1405

to be gonea1425

muck1429

packc1450

recede1450

roomc1450

to show (a person) the feetc1450

to come offc1475

to take one's licence1475

issue1484

devoidc1485

rebatea1500

walka1500

to go adieua1522

pikea1529

to go one's ways1530

retire?1543

avaunt1549

to make out1558

trudge1562

vade?1570

fly1581

leave1593

wag1594

to get off1595

to go off1600

to put off1600

shog1600

troop1600

to forsake patch1602

exit1607

hence1614

to give offa1616

to take off1657

to move off1692

to cut (also slip) the painter1699

sheera1704

to go about one's business1749

mizzle1772

to move out1792

transit1797–1803

stump it1803

to run away1809

quit1811

to clear off1816

to clear out1816

nash1819

fuff1822

to make (take) tracks (for)1824

mosey1829

slope1830

to tail out1830

to walk one's chalks1835

to take away1838

shove1844

trot1847

fade1848

evacuate1849

shag1851

to get up and get1854

to pull out1855

to cut (the) cable(s)1859

to light out1859

to pick up1872

to sling one's Daniel or hook1873

to sling (also take) one's hook1874

smoke1893

screw1896

shoot1897

voetsak1897

to tootle off1902

to ship out1908

to take a (run-out, walk-out, etc.) powder1909

to push off1918

to bugger off1922

biff1923

to fuck off1929

to hit, split or take the breeze1931

to jack off1931

to piss offa1935

to do a mick1937

to take a walk1937

to head off1941

to take a hike1944

moulder1945

to chuff off1947

to get lost1947

to shoot through1947

skidoo1949

to sod off1950

peel1951

bug1952

split1954

poop1961

mugger1962

frig1965

?1543 J. Clerke tr. D. de San Pedro Certayn Treatye sig. P.i There cam so many people into the churche, that the were constrayned..to retyre from thens.

1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xlv. f. 254 And Emilia, who had followed her mystresse into the chambre,..demaunded of her, wherefore she was retired from a company so honorable.

1597 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 589 Quhill danger and dispair reteirit, Experience came in.

c1600 A. Montgomerie Poems (2000) I. 61 If I mis to mend it as I micht I can reteir vhan resone thinks it richt.

c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas ii. in Wks. (1898) I. 330 Till last the prise is wonne,..And honour prostrate, blushing did reteare.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 237 Whom not to offend, With reverence I must meet, and thou retire .

1706 R. Estcourt Fair Example ii. i Here comes my Lady, retire you, 'tis not proper you shou'd be seen first with me.

1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. vi. 258 To them the King. No longer I detain Your friendly care: retire, ye virgin train!

1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. p. xxix After Dinner, when the Ladies retired to their Tea, and left us over a Bottle of Wine.

1795 W. Paley View Evidences Christianity (ed. 3) II. ii. ii. 51 The true virtue is that..which retires from them all to the single internal purpose of pleasing God.

1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott IV. v. 145 When the ladies retired from the dinner-table I happened to sit next him.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Lady Clara Vere de Vere in Poems (new ed.) I. 155 At me you smiled, but unbeguiled I saw the snare, and I retired.

1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd I. vii. 80 The bailiff was pointed out to Gabriel, who..retired with him to talk over the necessary preliminaries of hiring.

a1919 L. F. Baum Royal Bk. of Oz (1921) xiv. 196 If the three honorable Princes will retire themselves, I will speak with my grandsons.

1947 C. Mackenzie Whisky Galore xv. 205 The Sergeant-major saluted and retired.

1995 V. Chandra Red Earth & Pouring Rain (1996) 157 At first vaids and physicians and surgeons were summoned, but they retired baffled.

b. transitive. To draw or pull back, esp. to a previous position; to retract. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (transitive)] > pull > pull back

reduce?a1425

retract?a1475

retraha1513

retire1594

disadvance1596

repair1596

rehale1613

repull1632

revulsec1694

1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. C4 The lockes..Ech one by him inforst retires his ward.

1597 P. Lowe Art Chirurg. (1634) 171 Then retire the needle the way that it went in.

1631 R. Bolton Instr. Right Comf. Affl. Consciences 4 All the creatures then, pull in their hornes, retire their stings, bite in their poyson.

1743 Erskine tr. A. F. Prévost d'Exiles Mem. & Adventures Marquis de Bretagne & Duc d'Harcourt II. 22 Nor had she even the Power to retire her Hand, which he held clasped in his for above half an Hour.

1886 M. F. Sheldon tr. G. Flaubert Salammbô vii. 178 Straining their arms in the effort to retire from its rings the enormous bar securing the door.

1912 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 13 Aug. 442/1 Means for turning the bell-crank lever for retiring the bolt.

c. intransitive. Chiefly poetic and literary. To disappear, vanish (from sight).

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > be or become invisible [verb (intransitive)] > vanish or disappear

formeltc893

wendOE

witea1000

aworthc1000

fleec1200

fleetc1200

withdraw1297

vanish1303

voidc1374

unkithea1400

startc1405

disappearc1425

disparishc1425

to fall awayc1443

evanish?a1475

vade1495

sinka1500

vade1530

fly1535

fadea1538

melt?1567

dispear1600

relinquish1601

foist1603

dispersea1616

to vanish (melt, etc.) into thin aira1616

dissipate1626

retire1647

evaporate1713

merge1802

illude1820

to foam off1826

dislimn1833

furl1844

to step out1844

evanesce1855

shade1880

wisp1883

to go to the winds1884

walk1898

to do a disappearing act1913

to go west1916

to do (or take) a fade1949

to phase out1970

1647 H. More Philos. Poems 262 You before might turn to earth and mire What into ancient air so quickly doth retire.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 144 From his Eyes the fleeting Fair Retir'd like subtile Smoke dissolv'd in Air.

a1717 T. Parnell Night Piece on Death in Coll. Mod. Poems (1762) 13 The grounds which on the right aspire, In dimness from the view retire.

1737 H. Baker Medulla Poetarum Romanorum II. 497 Whene'er he [sc. the sun] mottles o'er his new-born Light, Or masks in Clouds, or half retires from Sight, Suspect the Show'r.

1802 F. O'Neill Poet. Ess. 23 Now his red orb collected in his fires, Shorn of his rays, A fainter light displays, And from our views in glaring pomp retires.

1864 Ld. Tennyson Voyage 17 How oft we saw the Sun retire, And burn the threshold of the night!

1905 G. B. Brown William Hogarth vii. 182 The last-named print..brings us into contact again with Hogarth's personality, which, through the last three chapters, has retired from view behind his works.

2001 C. Cravens tr. V. Páral Lovers & Murderers 80 Among the stumps of rotted trees, the trampled grass retired from sight beneath three thousand naked, sweaty bodies.

d. intransitive. To lie further back or away; to appear to recede. Also: to slope backwards. Also figurative. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > unevenness > condition or fact of receding > recede or form recess [verb (intransitive)]

retirea1701

retreat1792

indenta1806

a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 12 The Mountains at some places approach nearer the Sea; at other, retire farther off.

1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 216 The Wall always diminishes on the Inside, and retires and is lessened but little on the exteriour Surface.

1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. x. 345 The gothic features of this antient mansion successively appeared—first an embattled turret, rising above the trees—then the broken arch of an immense gate-way, retiring beyond them.

1837 B. Disraeli Venetia III. 1 An undulating margin that now retired into bays of the most picturesque form.

1859 T. J. Gullick & J. Timbs Painting 228 In the foreground, and in parts not intended to ‘retire’ the ‘impaste’ should be bold.

1939 W. H. Auden in W. H. Auden & C. Isherwood Journey to War 260 In front, maturity, as he ascended, Retired like a horizon from the child.

e. intransitive. Of a jury: to leave the courtroom to deliberate on the verdict of a trial.

ΚΠ

1703 Exact Abridgm. Tryals 263 The Jury retired, and within half an Hour, brought them all in Not Guilty.

1794 Trial Warren Hastings I. Pref. xliii The jury retired; read the whole pamphlet through, and brought in a verdict of Not Guilty.

1841 Times 17 Mar. 6 The jury retired to consider their verdict.

1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities ii. iii. 50 My Lord..signified his pleasure that they should retire under watch and ward.

1920 Michigan Law Rev. 19 116 Seven of the jurors had not been sworn to try the case before the jury retired to consider their verdict.

1951 L. P. Hartley My Fellow Devils xxvii. 288 The door through which the jury had retired stayed obstinately shut.

1985 R. C. A. White Admin. of Justice ii. v. 85 Before a majority verdict can be returned, the jury must have retired for at least two hours in an attempt to come to a unanimous decision.

2006 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 2 Apr. ii. 3/2 The court may retain alternate jurors after the jury retires to deliberate.

†6.

a. transitive. To pull back (the mind, thoughts, etc.) from an idea or subject. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > memory > faulty recollection > recollect wrongly [verb (transitive)] > forget, cease to know

forgetc888

unremember1484

tine1513

lose1530

retire1549

unknowa1586

forlet1813

disremember1815

1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Siii Wherupon Plato defineth Philosophie to bee a meditacion or remembraunce of death, in as muche as it plucketh and retyreth [L. abducat] the mind of man from visible and corporall thyng[e]s, to those that are inuisible and ghostly.

1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 145 When our externall senses are retired and withdrawen from doing their dueties.

1607 S. Hieron Abridgem. of Gospell in Wks. (1620) I. 156 To labour to pull and retire our affections from earthly things.

1619 W. Sclater Expos. 1 Thess. Ep. Ded. sig. A2^v To retire my minde, from the tumultuous hurly-burlies it is tossed withall.

a1718 W. Penn Fruits Father's Love (1726) ii. 26 So soon as you wake, retire your Mind into a pure Silence, from all Thoughts and Ideas of Worldly Things.

b. transitive. To dissuade, deter; to restrain (a person) from a course of action, an opinion, etc. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > specifically from doing something

conclude1382

restrain1384

refraina1398

keepa1400

to coart of1430

revokec1450

stop1488

contain1523

retract1548

stay1560

retire1567

straiten1622

confine1651

obligec1661

1567 E. Hake tr. Thomas à Kempis Imitation of Christ iii. viii. f. 69^v Those are in the greater daunger, bicause they would not be retyred from the opinion that they had once conceyued in themselues.

1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor i. i. sig. B How happy would I estimate my selfe, Could I..retyre my sonne, From one vayne course of study he affects.

1607 G. Chapman Bussy D'Ambois ii. 475 I feare my strangenesse will retire him; if he goe back, I die.

?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxii. 68 Thus wept the old king, and tore off his white hair; yet all these Retir'd not Hector.

†a. intransitive. To return; to come back. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > return towards point of departure

repaira1325

returna1325

rebounda1382

redounda1382

recovera1393

to go backc1425

revertc1475

renew1488

reverse1542

retire1567

revolve1587

reciprocate1623

retrovert1639

to get back1664

recur1719

hoicks1762

boomerang1900

1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Dviij^v Expulse nature with a forke Yet she will still retire.

1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 5 Though the Fawlcon be reclaimed to y^e fist she retyreth to hir haggardnes.

1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 127 But to retyre to our purpose.

1613 J. Davies Muses-teares sig. A2 Princely-perfection being past the prime..Is turn'd into the Roote,..Ner'e to retire till God in Flesh returne!

1692 in Misc. Sc. Burgh Rec. (1881) 57 Once to Bilbo, and not yet reteired.

1731 T. Dale tr. N. Regnault Philos. Conversat. I. 113 The Air being expelled, but victorious in its Return, forces the Needle to retire toward the Loadstone.

†b. transitive. To recover, regain; to bring or get back. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] > again or back

acovera1225

covera1300

gain-covera1300

to get againc1380

recovera1387

becoverc1400

recounsel?a1425

recurea1425

win1489

redeem1526

readept1537

rehave1541

recuperate1542

regain1548

reobtain1579

retire1584

reget1585

to get back1587

retrieve1589

reprise1590

reprocure1590

reattain1595

relieve1596

recompassc1604

reacquire1627

reacquist1635

recruit1656

1584 King James VI & I Poems (1955) I. 13 Then wrangles thair Men killd, vnkilld, whill Parcas breath reteir.

1586–7 Warrender Papers in R. S. Rait & A. I. Cameron King James Secret (1927) 152 Retire the inclosit from his majestie and keipe it.

1588 N. Yonge Musica Transalpina sig. C.^v Of death so sweete, so happy, & so desired, That to dye so againe, their lyfe retyred.

a1641 T. Heywood & W. Rowley Fortune by Land & Sea (1655) i. i. 5 Gentle Sir, help to retire his spirits over-travell'd with age and sorrow.

?c1682 J. Warburton Treat. Hist. Guernsey (1822) 92 In two cases, inheritance given to rent may be retired, or redeemed by the next kindred.

†c. transitive. To rally (troops). Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (transitive)] > rally

rely?a1400

re-allyc1485

re-enforce1594

retire1596

rally1600

rallier1619

steady1901

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 299 Al the rest he had put to flicht, gif be the Erle of Varuik thay had not bene helpet, reteired, and with a stout courage put in ordour agane.

d. transitive. Originally Scottish. Originally: to recover, retrieve (a document detailing an obligation to be discharged, esp. upon fulfilment of the obligation). Now usually: to withdraw (a bond, bill of exchange, stock, etc.) from operation or currency by settling the debt it represents; to pay or settle (a debt), consequently withdrawing the relevant bond or similar from currency.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [verb (transitive)] > use bills of exchange

protest1479

retire1610

imprest1617

to take up1655

honour1664

discount1671

indulge1766

dishonour1811

cover1866

sight1866

protect1884

1610 in J. Dalyell & J. Beveridge Binns Papers (1938) 20 I pray you, brother, adverteis me with the first occasione when thir soumes is payit that I may reteir my obligatione.

1681 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. i. vii. 80 This presumption is stronger in relation to Bonds, which are most ordinarly taken away, by retiring the same without taking Discharge.

1684 in J. Lauder Decisions Lords of Council (1759) I. 268 What they know of the trust or manner of retiring that debt.

1693 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. (ed. 2) iv. xlv. 713 It was not a Right to be Retired upon payment.

1727 in Trans. Inverness Sci. Soc. 1 (1895) 225 [She] gave me Three pounds sterlin money to keep for her—for which gave my note, payable on demand... Retired said note from her.

1766 W. Gordon Gen. Counting-house 12 Bills are..credited as they are retired.

1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well II. ii. 43 Two of his notes for L.100 each,..which he thinks nae mair of retiring, than he does of paying the national debt.

1849 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. (new ed.) IV. xxiv. 366 Territorial mandates..were intended to retire the assignats at the rate of thirty for one.

1854 Comm. Bench Rep. XV. 94 If an acceptor retires a bill at maturity, he takes it entirely from circulation, and the bill is in effect paid.

1901 G. W. Power et al. Australasian Ann. Digest 1900 20 B., being indebted to A., gave, as security for the debt, a promissory note..[along with] a covenant to pay and retire the promissory note on its due date.

1909 Public Ledger (Philadelphia) 24 June 10/3 The purpose to retire stock would be to avoid the embarrassment of claims from the preferred stockholders.

1943 Sun (Baltimore) 2 July 17/1 The carriers purchase and retire outstanding bonds out of wartime earnings.

2005 L. H. Kaufman Leaders Count iii. 91 Enough was retained that the Santa Fe was able to retire $100 million in debt, and by 1945 all callable bonds had been paid.

a. intransitive. To leave office, employment, or service permanently, now esp. on reaching pensionable age; to stop working. Also with from.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > office > withdrawing from or vacating office > vacate office [verb (intransitive)]

resign1395

recede1452

retirec1598

to take, lay down, resign the fascesa1625

to go out1642

to sing one's nunc dimittis1642

to make one's bowa1656

to lay down1682

to swear off1698

vacate1812

to send in one's papers1872

to step down1890

to stand down1926

society > occupation and work > lack of work > [verb (intransitive)] > vacate an office or position > retire

recede1452

retirec1598

to make one's bowa1656

to hang up one's fiddle1833

c1598 [implied in: J. Ley in T. Hearne Coll. Curious Disc. Eminent Antiquaries (1720) xix. 83 For that they were old retired soldiers, they were not only free from service, and taxes, presented wheresoever they came, [etc.]. (at retired adj. 4)].

1650 in A. Macdonald & J. Dennistoun Misc. Maitland Club (1840) II. 485 As I cam in upon his majesties warrand, so upon his letteris did I ly asyd all intrestis and reteir.

1667 S. Pepys Diary 30 Aug. (1974) VIII. 409 He did not think any man fit to serve a prince that did not know how to retire and live a country life.

1669 R. Montagu in Buccleuch MSS (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 424 You and the Duke of Buckingham..would both desire leave to retire.

1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull in his Senses iv. 18 I have..a small Pittance left, with which I might retire.

1763 London Evening-post 22 Nov. Jacob Snelgrove, formerly a commander in the West-India trade,..had for some time retired from that employment.

1806 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 15 360 Let the surgeons of the former retire upon an annuity, and let those in the latter be continued.

1876 G. E. Voyle & G. de Saint-Clair-Stevenson Mil. Dict. (ed. 3) 340/2 After 30 years' service..an officer can retire on full pay.

1908 Daily Chron. 16 Apr. 6/3 Five members of the Administration have retired... The average age of the out-goers is 61.

1958 Connecticut Hist. Soc. Apr. 39 He was then about seventy-two years old and had probably retired from his very strenuous occupation.

1969 R. Salerno & J. S. Tompkins Crime Confederation 91 The Underboss may, or may not, succeed to the top job when the Boss dies or retires.

2004 High Country News 26 Apr. 9/2 A way to clear the agencies of dead wood, prodding older employees to retire.

b. intransitive. To leave permanently one's office or employment and move to a certain place, esp. for quiet or seclusion.

ΚΠ

1782 H. Walpole Catal. Engravers (new ed.) 214 He [sc. George Bickham] retired to Richmond, and..sold part of his plates and stock in trade by auction.

1857 J. Doran Monarchs Retired from Business II. 167 He [sc. Cormac] contentedly resigned his power to his son. Cormac retired to a small thatched cabin at Kells.

1872 Lancet 7 Dec. 833/2 He sent in his resignation, and retired to the South of France, where he continued to reside until the time of his death.

1940 G. Morphett Simple Story Rural Devel. 4 In 1910 we sold the farm on a walk-in walk-out basis and retired to Adelaide.

1968 F. Exley Fan's Notes ix. 384 The generation which will all retire to the great American Southwest, where under dry, brilliant, and perpetual suns they will all live to be a hundred and fifty.

1994 Voice 18 Oct. (24 Hrs. Suppl.) 15/3 Maria is a London cab driver who wants to retire to Antigua.

2004 W. St. John Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer 112 He and his wife retired to South Florida, only to have their house vacuumed off the earth by Hurricane Andrew.

c. transitive. To compel (a person) to leave active military service. Later also: to remove (a person) from office or employment, esp. before the usual retirement age.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > discharge from service > [verb (transitive)]

cash1564

cast1587

cashier1599

to muster out of service1834

retire1852

pluck1911

society > authority > office > removal from office or authority > remove from office or authority [verb (transitive)]

outOE

deposec1300

remuec1325

to put out1344

to set downc1369

deprivec1374

outputa1382

removea1382

to throw outa1382

to put downc1384

privea1387

to set adowna1387

to put out of ——?a1400

amovec1425

disappoint1434

unmakec1475

dismiss1477

dispoint1483

voidc1503

to set or put beside (or besides) the cushion1546

relieve1549

cass1550

displace1553

unauthorize1554

to wring out1560

seclude1572

eject1576

dispost1577

decass1579

overboard1585

cast1587

sequester1587

to put to grass1589

cashier1592

discompose1599

abdicate1610

unseat1611

dismount1612

disoffice1627

to take off1642

unchair1645

destitute1653

lift1659

resign1674

quietus1688

superannuate1692

derange1796

shelve1812

shelf1819

Stellenbosch1900

defenestrate1917

axe1922

retire1961

society > occupation and work > lack of work > [verb (transitive)] > retire (a person)

yellow1820

retire1961

1852 Democratic Rev. Aug. 161/2 Forty of the sixty-eight captains should be retired for incapacity.

1870 Daily News 27 June That a flag officer..should be compulsorily retired on attaining a certain age.

1894 Times 29 May 11/3 Admiral..Hamilton..was retired from the active list under the age clause.

1914 Ann. Rep. War Dept. I. 153 Two officers examined were found physically disqualified and are to be retired when entitled to promotion.

1945 Ann. Reg. July 113/1 If even 200 [captains] were retired, the average age of those advanced to the top of the list would be 60.

1961 M. Spark Prime of Miss Jean Brodie iii. 71 She had been retired before time.

1995 Economist 11 Feb. 131 An increase in the number of people who have retired—or been retired—at the age of 55 or earlier.

a. intransitive. Cricket. Of a batter: (originally) to leave the field after being dismissed; to go out; (now usually) to leave the field without being dismissed, as for injury or illness, with the option of returning later in the innings (cf. to retire hurt at Phrases).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > bat [verb (intransitive)] > retire

retire1801

1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod ii. iii. 84 If he proves successful the batsman retires from the play, and another of his party succeeds.

1840 Peter Parley's Ann. 132 If the ball strikes the wicket and knocks off the bail, the striker is out and retires from the play.

1851 W. Clarke Pract. Hints Cricket in W. Bolland Cricket Notes 128 You must..make the man play out... Perhaps before that is the case, you will have caused him to retire [by driving him on to his wicket].

1863 Frederick Lillywhite's Cricket Scores & Biogr. Cricketers III. 62 Wansell..was given out unfairly, and refused to retire.

1901 H. Bleackley Tales of Stumps iv. 105 Amidst..loud applause, he retired with thirty-eight runs to his credit.

1966 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 10 Mar. 20/4 The batsman had to retire, but was back at the fall of the eighth wicket.

2001 Coventry Evening Tel. (Nexis) 30 July 32 Mark Butcher was struck on the head... The England batsman retired after making three from 10 deliveries.

b. intransitive. Sport. To withdraw from a race or match, esp. because of injury; to pull out.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > win, lose, or score [verb (intransitive)] > retire or be forced out

retire1846

1846 Glasgow Herald 25 Aug. The Rose having won the cup on the preceding day, after rounding the first flag-boat, retired from the contest.

1879 Bell's Life in London 9 Aug. 3/4 Hawkes had fallen and cut himself badly, and, after two attempts to renew the race, had to retire.

1907 Automotor Jrnl. 6 July 946 Nordenfeldt retired at Perth owing to a fracture of the forward universal joint.

1977 Times 15 July (Motor Racing Suppl.) p. vi/1 James Hunt..was put out of the race by a crash... His German team-mate..had retired three laps earlier.

2007 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 22 May 14 He also experienced spasms in his back when playing doubles..last month, prompting him to retire after one set.

c. transitive. U.S. Baseball. To cause (a batter or team) to be out; to put out.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > play baseball [verb (transitive)] > put out > a batter

to catch out1855

retire1870

to strike out1939

1870 N.-Y. Times 5 July 5/6 Zettlein and Pike were both retired by Tracey, who caught them on the fly.

1889 N. F. Pfeffer Scientific Ball 33 Runners move up every time the ball is pitched;..the clever baseman will be guided by the action of the man he wants to retire.

1917 C. Mathewson Second Base Sloan 180 The first batsman was retired on an easy toss from Chase to Jim.

1949 News-Herald (Marshfield, Wisconsin) 19 July 9/4 Nowitzke gobbled up Bauer's grounder and threw him out to retire the side.

1972 N.Y. Times 4 June v. 1/7 Lyle retired the first 11 batters and wound up allowing just three singles.

2007 Wall St. Jrnl. 7 Sept. w9C/1 We'll use off-base percentage (OFB). OFB shows how often a pitcher retires the batter he faces.

10.

a. intransitive. To withdraw permanently from one's usual activity or sphere of activity.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] > avoid > withdraw (from a task or undertaking)

vacate1665

retire1807

to pull out1884

to bow out1942

1807 Monthly Mirror Mar. 218 Mrs. Didier, so long and so justly a favourite at the Bath theatre, has retired from the mimic scene.

1829 Times 1 Oct. 3/2 The report of Lord Mountcharles's being about to retire from the turf is void of truth.

1857 C. Dickens Let. 13 July (1995) VIII. 377 He retired from the stage early in life.

1910 Times 28 June 11/6 He then acceded to the wishes of his countrymen and revoked his determination to retire from public life.

1948 Warren (Pa.) Times-Mirror 17 Aug. 8/6 George Herman (Babe) Ruth..retired from playing in big league baseball in 1935.

1983 M. Cohen Cafe le Dog in Life on Planet 172 Mauriac retired from the writing of novels and turned his teacherly attentions to composing the memoirs of his sanctimonious life.

2009 Observer (Nexis) 15 Feb. 12 His [sc. Cary Grant's] reputation has grown since he retired from the screen in 1966 at the height of his stardom.

b. transitive. To withdraw (a person or animal) from an activity or sphere of activity. Also in extended use: to withdraw (a vehicle, an item, etc.) from use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > cause to be idle or inactive [verb (transitive)] > withdraw from usual activity

retire1881

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > non-use > refrain from using [verb (transitive)] > withdraw from use

repeal1573

strike1793

retire1881

decommission1922

the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > unaccustomedness or state of disuse > give up a habit or practice [verb (transitive)] > cause one to or disaccustom > withdraw from usual activity

retire1881

1881 ‘M. Twain’ Prince & Pauper xix. 244 He was so awkward at this service that she retired him from it.

1883 Lisbon (Dakota Territory) Star 12 Oct. Eighteen packet boats have been retired by several of the packet lines.., owing to the low stage of water.

1888 Amer. Humorist 2 June 5/2 The Sale, after this race, became known, and Mr. Bonner retired him [sc. a horse] from the track.

1918 H. C. Adams Amer. Railway Accounting v. 94 A reserve against which the cost of replacing important pieces of property may be charged when, for any reason, such property is retired.

1969 Proc. Geol. Soc. Aug. 154 It has been agreed (by the Stratigraphy Committee) to retire the word ‘Rhaetic’.

1974 Sci. Amer. Dec. 139/1 This material served for about a year before I retired it.

2003 RCM & E (Radio Control Models & Electronics) Dec. 76/4 There were thousands upon thousands of aeroplanes which had been retired from service and were awaiting the blow torch to cut them up.

Phrases

Cricket. to retire hurt: (of a batter) to leave the field due to injury, with the option of returning later in the innings. Cf. sense 9a. Also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > bat [verb (intransitive)] > retire > hurt

to retire hurt1844

1844 Jackson's Oxf. Jrnl. 18 May 3/4 S. H. Colston, Esq. retired hurt..1.

1892 John Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack (ed. 29) 209 Mr. E. C. Streatfield (Pembroke), not out 6—retired hurt 19.

1925 A. Christie Secret of Chimneys xv. 141 Poor little Michael didn't get it [sc. a disappointing answer] as straight from the shoulder as he might have done. But he retired hurt all the same.

1977 Arab Times 3 Dec. 9/6 Kurian had to retire hurt after scoring 11 runs.

2009 Coventry Tel. (Nexis) 9 Mar. He was forced to retire hurt with a hamstring strain, sustained as he was running the single to reach his 10th Test hundred.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	retire
释义	retiren.¹ Brit. /rᵻˈtʌɪə/, U.S. /rəˈtaɪ(ə)r/, /riˈtaɪ(ə)r/ Forms: 1500s reteere, 1500s–1600s retyre, 1500s– retire; also Scottish pre-1700 retear, pre-1700 reteir. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: retire v. Etymology: < retire v. Compare Middle French retire , retyre action of retreating (1490 in a document from Fribourg), Spanish retiro (late 15th cent.), Portuguese retiro place of retreat or solitude (a1557), spiritual retreat (17th cent.), retirement from active life (17th cent.). Compare retirement n., retiring n.In sense 2b in later use perhaps directly < the imperative of retire v. †1. a. Return to a place. Also in extended use. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > travel > aspects of travel > return > [noun] gaincome?c1225 retourc1330 gaincominga1340 again-cominga1382 returna1393 again-racea1400 returning?c1400 resortc1425 turningc1440 revertence?1457 repairingc1460 again-goinga1475 regress1478 revenuea1500 reversiona1500 back-coming1535 retire?1538 back-return1577 redition1595 regredience1648 reverter1663 epistrophe1814 ?1538 Inst. Lawes Eng. sig. E.iii^v After this viage royall in to Scotlande..and after the retyre in to Englande agayn a parliament is wont to be somoned. 1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 103 Isidore saith, that he is so named..for often turning and retire had to one and the same place. 1578 R. Edwards Paradyse Daynty Deuises (new ed.) sig. Fiii^v I hope, what happe? her happy healthes retyre. 1599 Warning for Faire Women i. 131 Entreat thy mistress..to make retire Hither again, for I will speak with her. 1625 T. Jackson Treat. Originall of Vnbeliefe 446 That is our Country whence we came... But what is the meanes or manner of our retire? b. The rhetorical device of resuming a theme or subject; a return to a subject. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > memory > retrospection, reminiscence > [noun] > returning to a topic retrogradation1587 retire1589 retrospection1685 recurrence1751 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xix. 184 This figure of retire..resumes both the matter and the termes, and is therefore accompted one of the figures of repetition. 1597 Bp. J. King Lect. Ionas iv. 50 Once againe he repeateth the cause, and by a retire to his former speech, maketh the publication of his crime both..the first and the last of the sentence. 2. †a. The action or an act of falling back or retreating from a place or position, esp. in the face of superior force. Obsolete (rare after 17th cent.).In quot. 1837 with allusion to Shakespeare (cf. quot. 1598). ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [noun] > retreat retreat1523 retire1548 retract1553 back-march1577 dismarch1600 dismarching1635 skedaddle1870 pullback1943 1548 W. Patten Exped. Scotl. H j [They] did..turne themselues and made a soft retyre vp towarde the hyll agayne. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cliij^v In the retire they fel into the lappes of their ennemies. 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. iv. 51 And thou hast talkt Of sallies, and retyres of trenches tents, Of pallizadoes, frontiers, parapets. View more context for this quotation 1599 J. Thomas in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) II. ii. 9 The Spaniardes perceiuing this, returned, and in our mens retire they slew sixe of them. 1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. v. 28 The Tyrantes were put vnto the worst, and making their retire into the City [etc.]. 1837 K. H. Digby Mores Catholici ix. xi. 377 Enough of sallies and retires, of palisados, fortins, parapets. b. Military. The signal to fall back in battle, often to move towards a better position to conduct a defence. Frequently in to sound the retire and variants. Also in extended use. Cf. retreat n. 5a. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military organization > signals > [noun] > other specific signals retire1577 watchword1615 battalia1625 1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 1774/2 The gouernors..did cause a retire to be sounded, & withall three or four of the canons in y^e market place, to be turned vpon Webs tower. a1591 H. Smith Serm. (1593) 984 Therefore hee might well sound the retire of wisdome. 1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. I2 Our drums strike nothing but discouragement, Our trumpets sound dishonor, and retire . View more context for this quotation 1831 J. Cooke Mem. Late War iii. 54 Sir James Kempt..had now ordered a bugler to sound the ‘retire’, after two hours' fighting. 1842 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. 39 ii. 189 The ‘retire’ was heard by us, but answered with the ‘advance’, for I knew all was right. 1885 in B. St. J. Bellairs Transvaal War 249 An ambuscade being feared, the ‘retire’ was sounded from the fort. 1901 E. Nesbit Wouldbegoods 45 Oswald cannot play the ‘retire’, and he would scorn to do so. But I suppose a bugler has to play what he is told, no matter how galling. 1953 Official Programme Royal Tournament Earls Court 23 On the ‘Retire’ being sounded the gun is taken back over the enemy wall. 2008 M. Snook Into Jaws of Death 39 The officers..cocked their ears between volleys to take in the sound of a bugle call. They identified it as the ‘Retire’ and sensed that it was coming from somewhere near Colonel Pulleine's position. †3. a. Chiefly poetic. The action or an act of retreating into seclusion, quiet, or privacy. Also figurative. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > retirement or seclusion > [noun] privity?c1225 reclusionc1430 abstractionc1450 recess?1532 privacy1534 solitariousness1545 retirea1554 secess1570 privatenessa1586 retirednessa1586 retirement1603 secrecy1607 closeness1612 shadow1612 privatea1616 recluseness1648 abstractednessa1653 recluse1665 abscondence1694 seclusion1785 seclusiveness1822 retiracy1824 secludedness1835 retraite1843 a1554 J. Croke tr. Thirteen Psalms (1844) xxxviii. 12 Lo my retyre, And waylyng, is not hyd from the. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. ix. sig. Gg6 All this worlds gay showes..Be but vaine shadowes to this safe retyre Of life, which here in lowlinesse ye lead. View more context for this quotation 1639 G. Daniel Ecclus. xxxviii. 60 Learning is not Rest, But a retire from noise, from worldly Care. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 267 Eve..with audible lament Discover'd soon the place of her retire . View more context for this quotation 1820 J. Keats Lamia i, in Lamia & Other Poems 16 By some freakful chance he made retire From his companions, and set forth to walk. b. A secluded or private place; a retreat. Obsolete (rare after 17th cent.). ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > retirement or seclusion > secluded place or place of seclusion > [noun] wroa1300 recluse1474 reclusage1480 retreatc1500 retire1595 rendezvous1598 retirement1603 recess1611 shadea1616 Jericho1635 privacy1648 sequesterment1778 seclusion1791 retraite1814 backwater1820 hideaway1930 1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres iii. xxi. sig. N4^v This sacred place Our Auentine Retire [Faults Escaped: retyre], our holy hill. 1635 R. Brathwait Ess. Five Senses (rev. ed.) ii. i. 97 What retire or retreit could he finde in any place? a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia in Poems (1878) Ded. 2 When I am Earth, and what was counted fire Knitts to its Source, the naturall retire Of Elements. 1865 L. Gidley Aletes 66 Save what winds inspire, And forests minister, in whose cool retire Are sombre glades. †4. Movement back or away; an instance of this. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > [noun] > retiring, withdrawing, or retreating recoilc1330 retreata1393 subtraction?a1425 back-drawing1535 retirement1536 retiring1548 retraict1550 recess1561 retire1570 retiral1611 subducing1633 retiration1637 withdrawment1640 retirance1662 retreating1664 retraction1684 retreatment1721 withdrawal1824 back-pedalling1950 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 232/1 Vnderstandyng the false feare of the pope and of his retire to Canusium. 1577 N. Breton Floorish vpon Fancie Pref. sig. Aiii^v And many times, I thought to make retire, But in the ende, obtained my desire. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 44 The Moone..in her approch and comming toward, filleth bodies ful; and in her retire and going away, emptieth them again. a1676 M. Hale Narr. Customes vi, in S. A. Moore Hist. Foreshore (1888) 362 Recessus maris I take to bee the retyre of the sea from the usual low water mark. 1784 ‘Mr. Hull’ in T. Evans Old Ballads (ed. 2) IV. i. 14 The sinking sun, with richly-burnish'd glow, Now to his western chamber made retire. 1888 P. Gillmore Days & Nights by Desert xxvii. 227 The noble beast..slowly and hesitatingly turned round and retired... When the retire was changed into a hurried retreat, to my alarm I beheld the fearless [dog] Donna bring up the rear. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022). retirev. Brit. /rᵻˈtʌɪə/, U.S. /rəˈtaɪ(ə)r/, /riˈtaɪ(ə)r/ Forms: α. Scottish pre-1700 retarie (perhaps transmission error), pre-1700 reteare, pre-1700 reteere, pre-1700 reteire, pre-1700 reter, pre-1700 retere, pre-1700 reteyre, pre-1700 1700s reteir. β. 1500s–1600s retier, 1500s–1600s retyre, 1500s– retire; Scottish pre-1700 retyre, pre-1700 1700s retier, pre-1700 1700s– retire. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French retirer. Etymology: < Middle French, French retirer to pull or draw (something) back (12th cent. in Old French), to remove, withdraw (something from someone) (13th cent.), to remove (someone from a particular place or position), to free (someone from captivity), to keep (something) in reserve, to deter or turn (someone) aside (from a vice, etc.) (all 15th cent.), also (reflexive) to withdraw, go away (end of the 14th cent.), to go off to somewhere peaceful or secluded, to withdraw somewhere for protection, (in military context) to retreat (all 15th cent.), (reflexive, of the sea) to ebb (c1500), (reflexive with de ) to give up (a habit, etc.) (1508), (reflexive with de ) to cease to perform or pursue (a specified activity, mode of employment, post, etc.) (1538), (reflexive with de ) to cease to frequent (someone) (1553) < re- re- prefix + tirer tire v.² Compare Old Occitan retirar , Spanish retirar (15th cent. or earlier), Portuguese retirar (1567), Italian ritirare , †retirare (1313). Compare retirement n., retire n.¹, retiring n.The senses of the French word (and hence of the English word) show many points of connection with those of retraire (see retreat v.¹); French retirer also shows a number of senses not paralleled in English, especially senses related to the core meanings ‘to take back, take away, remove’. In modern French the meanings ‘to leave employment’ and ‘to withdraw (something) from service’ are usually expressed by constructions with retraite retreat n., rather than with retirer . In sense 1c after Italian ritirarsi , †retirarsi (reflexive) to give ground before one's opponent (16th cent.). With sense 7 compare earlier retire n.¹ 1a. 1. a. intransitive. Of an army, troops, etc.: to fall back or give ground, esp. when confronted by a superior force; to retreat. Also with from, to.Also transitive (reflexive) in earlier use. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (intransitive)] > retreat withdraw1297 recoilc1330 faila1400 rere?a1400 give way1413 ruse?a1425 retreata1460 to leave place1487 wandis1487 settle1513 retire1533 retrace1539 dismarch1596 to come off1600 to fall back1602 retraicta1604 give grounda1616 recline1789 exfiltrate1980 1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. ii. xxvi. 236 He had commandit his army to retere abak fra þe tentis of Inemyis. 1537 Bp. S. Gardiner Let. 19 Oct. (1933) 79 The Turke retyred himself without doing any notable acte, wherby he hath lost his reputacion. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxxiii^v By little and little they retire and on the bridge ouer the Rhine they foughte a longe time. 1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Hist. Descr. Worlde 160 In their encounters..they retire as repulsed, for feare so to draw their enemies within danger. 1650 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1842) III. 125 He reteared a little which they behind took for a flight. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 106 The vanquish'd Bull..from his proud Foe retires . View more context for this quotation 1717 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) III. 20 About as many Indians, from whom they retired. 1743 Pitt in J. Almon Anecd. (1810) I. v. 121 The French not only re-passed the Rhine, but retired quite out of Germany. 1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 248 If a line with reserves, finds it necessary to retire in face of an enemy; the alternate squadrons and reserves will retire two or three hundred paces, and then front. 1840 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VII. 121 They soon found themselves threatened with violence, and obliged to retire. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 363/1 The task of a rear guard retiring before a victorious enemy..is one of the most delicate of operations. 1920 Amer. Jrnl. Internat. Law 14 106 As soon as the Serbian troops began to retire, the Bulgars..launched the attack which eventually led to the complete subjugation of Serbia. 1957 W. S. Churchill Hist. Eng.-speaking Peoples III. vii. v. 127 Lack of numbers and organisation compelled the British force to retire at the end of the campaign. 2000 J. M. Anderson Hist. Portugal vii. 128 He was defeated at the frontier fortress of Almeida..and his forces retired to Buçaco near Coimbra. b. transitive. To pull back (an army, troops, etc.), esp. when confronted by a superior force; to order to retreat. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (transitive)] > retreat to > withdraw (troops) retire1548 exfiltrate1980 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xix^v Thus beyng tossed from countrey to countrey, from hill to vale,..withoute vitayle or succour, he was of necessitie compelled to retire his armie. 1550 Reg. Privy Council Scotl. I. 86 That his Hienes had..thairthrow constrenit thame to retere the maist part of thair army. 1597 T. Beard Theatre Gods Iudgements i. xxix. 167 Whilst their Embassadours were retiring their garrisons out of Misia..hee set forward his armie. a1648 Ld. Herbert Life Henry VIII (1649) 393* He appointed him twenty dayes time to retire his Army out of Piedmont. 1693 tr. J. Le Clerc Mem. Count Teckely iv. 39 The General Veteranie..retired all his Troops to Nissa. 1744 J. Bancks Hist. Life & Reign Wiliam III ii. 43 As soon as the Infantry of the Confederates were retir'd, the French fell with redoubled fury upon the Spanish Horse. 1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 186 The Half Squadrons..may be retired at any named distance behind each other. 1813 R. Wilson Private Diary (1862) II. 456 The enemy had retired their centre and left, so that the engagement on these points commenced necessarily later. 1841 C. J. Lever Charles O'Malley liii The French were soon seen to retire their heavy guns. 1897 E. Wood Achievem. Cavalry i. 16 No cavalry can be expected to fight if it is retired at speed with an enemy at its heels. 1914 Christian Sci. Monitor 12 Sept. 1/7 We captured 50 guns and several thousand prisoners, but retired the flank when the advance of strong hostile columns was reported. 2004 R. H. Harrell 2nd N. Carolina Cavalry ii. 93 By the afternoon Hooker himself was across the ford, and during the stormy night of May 5, Hooker retired his army back across the river. c. intransitive. Fencing. To give ground before one's opponent; to take one or more steps backward. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > fence [verb (intransitive)] > actions traversea1470 to hold one's handa1500 flourish1552 lock1579 to come in1594 retire1594 pass1595 recover1600 redouble1640 allonge1652 caveat1652 parry1671 disengage1684 overlap1692 volt1692 tierce1765 whip1771 wrench1771 lunge1809 salute1809 riposte1823 cut1833 quart1833 repost1848 remise1889 1594 I. G. tr. G. di Grassi True Arte Def. N 4 b The enimie hath no other remedie to safe himselfe, then to retire backe. 1595 V. Saviolo Practise i. * 4 b To hit and retire is not discommendable. 1705 H. Blackwell Eng. Fencing-master (new ed.) v. 17 No more [than two feints] are convenient, except your Adversary retires on a good Guard, and you approach on him. 1707 W. Hope New Method Fencing iv. 122 It will be fit for you to retire a little with a single Step. 1765 D. Angelo School of Fencing (ed. 2) 58/1 If you should not have room to retire, you may lean your left hand on your hip, and keep your sword in a continual circle parade. 1861 G. Chapman Foil Pract. ii. 39 Advance one pace as I retire..; retire in quarte. 1889 W. H. Pollock et al. Fencing (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) vi. 106 Fencers of this kind hope to force the adversary to retire. 1960 C.-L. de Beaumont Fencing iii. 115 The wide target to be protected requires that he should be able to retire with equal rapidity. 1999 A. Skipp Handbk. Foil Fencing Gloss. 85 Retire, to step back. 2. †a. transitive. To move (a person or thing) away, esp. for safety or storage; to lodge, store. Also with in, into, to. Also figurative. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > remove or take away ateec885 withbreidec890 animOE overbearOE to do awayOE flitc1175 reavec1175 takec1175 to have away?a1300 to draw awayc1300 weve13.. to wend awaya1325 withdrawa1325 remuec1325 to carry away1363 to take away1372 waive1377 to long awaya1382 oftakec1390 to draw offa1398 to do froa1400 forflitc1420 amove?a1425 to carry out?a1425 surtrayc1440 surtretec1440 twistc1440 abstract1449 ostea1450 remove1459 ablatea1475 araisea1475 redd1479 dismove1480 diminish?1504 convey1530 alienate1534 retire1536 dimove1540 reversec1540 subtractc1540 submove1542 sublate1548 pare1549 to pull in1549 exempt1553 to shift off1567 retract?1570 renversec1586 aufer1587 to lay offa1593 rear1596 retrench1596 unhearse1596 exemea1600 remote1600 to set off1600 subduct1614 rob1627 extraneize1653 to bring off1656 to pull back1656 draft1742 extract1804 reef1901 1536 King Henry VIII Let. 1 Nov. in Camden Misc. (1992) XXXI. 56 Beinge now advertised that the..rebelles be againe disparked and retired to theire houses. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xix. 22 b The gouernours lodging,..hauing vnderneath it the cellars to retyre the munition, could not be repayred. 1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 362 The Valachies before his comming, had retired their wiues and children..into their strong citties. 1664 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense 75 in Sylva Retire your choice Greens, and rarest Plants..into your Conservatory. 1690 Lady Russell Lett. I. 68 Happy are those whom God retires in his grace. 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 24 When they [sc. the guests] had been retir'd, Lodgings provided for them as well as our Ship would allow, and they had slept heartily. b. intransitive. To move back or away. Also figurative and transitive (reflexive). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] reversec1450 recoil1483 back1486 regressa1525 retire1542 flinch1578 retrograde1613 recur1616 retrocede1638 ravel1656 backen1748 regrede1800 regrade1811 retrogress1812 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat withdraw1297 recoilc1330 give place1382 arrear1399 to draw backa1400 resortc1425 adrawc1450 recedec1450 retraya1470 returna1470 rebut1481 wyke1481 umbedrawc1485 retreata1500 retract1535 retire1542 to give back1548 regress1552 to fall back?1567 peak1576 flinch1578 to fall offa1586 to draw off1602 to give ground1607 retrograde1613 to train off1796 to beat a retreat1861 to back off1938 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes ii. f. 290^v How muche better had it been for me, to haue been born a poore mans chyld, if I shal neuer obtein to retire from the cures of warfare. 1549 T. Cooper Lanquet's Epitome of Crons. f. 254^v Euerye bowman shoulde prepare him a sharpe picked stake, and..to pitche the same before him and sodeynly to retyre backe, shooting wholye together with great violence. 1594 S. Daniel Delia & Rosamond sig. G4 What stand you now amaz'd, retire you back? c1600 A. Montgomerie Poems (2000) I. 101 Bright Titan to the Tropiks that reteirs. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies iii. ix. 145 The farther we go into the sea, and retyre from land, the more we are touched and dazeled with this sicknes. 1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 ccxlv. 62 Th'amazed flames stand gather'd on a heap; And from the precipices brinck retire. 1750 M. Towgood Dissenting Gentleman's Postscript 38 He came near again,..and seeing the Wine, let fall the Cover again, retired back, and bowed as before. 1788 A. Hughes Henry & Isabella IV. 208 She was scarce retired with her mother, before the counsellor..was desired to walk into his chamber. 1840 D. Walker Defensive Exercises 106 Greater flexibility is allowed to the right leg in moving forward to gain distance upon an adversary, or..in retiring from his reach. 1853 D. Rock Church our Fathers III. ii. 194 Both the acolytes..retired themselves into the choir. 1867 H. Macmillan Bible Teachings vi. 116 As science advances superstition retires. 1930 D. L. Sayers Strong Poison xx. 255 Bunter, who having introduced her, retired to a position on the fringe of the assembly and hovered there looking correct. 1963 A. Moorehead Cooper's Creek xv. 199 In the Cambrian age such a sea extended south from the Gulf of Carpentaria over western Queensland and South Australia, and even when this sea retired a great lake remained in the centre. 1999 H. Adams Many Pretty Toys 53 Then we retired slowly and aimlessly back toward our homes, looking back from time to time at the retreating figures. †c. transitive. To retrieve or remove (a person) from a place of danger or hardship; to save. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > rescue or deliver (from) [verb (transitive)] areddec885 leeseOE reddOE winc1220 deliver?c1225 ridc1225 quita1250 betellc1275 casta1300 to cast outa1300 liverc1330 rescuec1330 wrechec1330 borrowc1350 to put out of ——c1350 to bring awaya1400 redea1400 wreakc1400 rescourec1425 rescousa1450 savec1480 relue1483 salue1484 redeem1488 recovera1500 redressa1500 eschewc1500 rescours1511 to pull (also snatch) out of the fire1526 recourse1533 withtakec1540 redeem1549 vindicate1568 retire1578 repair1591 reprieve1605 to bring off1609 1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 51 Gif ȝour grace..wald Reteir ȝour Sone fra the Gallous agane, Than [etc.]. a1586 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David (1823) xl. i Me..From dungeon he retired, Where I in horrors lay. 1614 in G. G. Smith Bk. Islay (1895) 181 Use all..dexteritie to reteir saulflie out of thair handis the laird..and the bischop. d. transitive. To withdraw or remove (an object, quality, etc.) from notice; to hide. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > privacy > make private [verb (transitive)] close1430 retire1605 imprivacya1670 recess1795 background1891 1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Ee2^v For that tendeth to demonstrate, and illustrate that which is taught..this other to retire and obscure it. View more context for this quotation 1826 Monthly Rev. 1 469 This doubtless would be the safest means of ensuring to them a happiness, which should be retired and concealed, as it were, in the details of domestic life. 1893 Harper's Mag. Dec. 161 To retire your comely features in the meshes of a veil. 1899 J. A. Hobson John Ruskin 123 Professors Marshall and Sidgwick retire this ‘fundamental proposition on capital’ into the obscurity of foot-notes. 1921 Addr. & Proc. 59th Ann. Meeting National Educ. Assoc. U.S. 495 Retire to obscure corners, or to a separate room if possible, all obsolete and dead material. 3. a. intransitive. To retreat to a place for seclusion, security, or privacy. Usually with from, into, to, etc. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > retirement or seclusion > seek seclusion [verb (intransitive)] withdrawc1385 to renounce the worlda1425 retirea1538 sequester1627 secede1755 to do (also pull) a Garbo1932 a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 99 Certayn monasterys..to the wych al such..may retyre, & from the besynes & vanyte of the world may wythdray themselfe. ?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. 78 Scotlond..whereunto noe small number of fugitives wear retiered. 1610 J. Healey tr. St. Augustine Citie of God i. ii. 3 A..foe, that would spare any that they found retired into the temples of their gods. a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. i. 11 On safegard he came to me..: he is retyred to Antium. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 161 If you be pleas'd, retire into my Cell, And there repose. View more context for this quotation 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 253 Seeking mee, who then Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd . View more context for this quotation 1685 E. Stillingfleet Origines Britannicæ iv. 185 Those were called Monks at Rome, who had no Office in the Church, but yet retired from the common Emploiments of the World for Sacred Studies and Devotion. 1704 J. Norris Ess. Ideal World II. xiii. 571 The most natural way for the discovery of truth, is, instead of going abroad for intelligence, to retire into ourselves. 1716 C. Johnson Cobler of Preston ii. 40 I'll retire from this vile World, like a Peace-making Minister; and pass the rest of my Days in Solitude and Sleep. 1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall IV. xli. 154 The abdicated monarch retired..to a life of peace, of affluence, and perhaps of content. 1830 Ld. Tennyson Ode to Memory v, in Poems 64 Whither in after life retired..We may hold converse. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 267 He..therefore, when the Rye House plot was discovered, thought it expedient to retire to the Continent. 1883 M. Oliphant Hester III. vii. 135 She would retire from the fray. She would clothe herself in double armour of stoicism, and teach herself to see the humour in this. 1959 T. Shebunina tr. A. Tolstoy Peter the First ii. v. 592 To mark his resentment Nektary retired into an earth-hole where he remained in perpetual silence for two years. 1991 P. Barolsky Why Mona Lisa Smiles 94 When he speaks of Michelangelo retreating to Camaldoli, he reflects upon his own frequent visits to this holy place—to retire from the noise of the world, from the strains of court life. 2008 Evening Herald (Ireland) (Nexis) 17 Dec. Deciding it was all getting a bit too much for him,..the singer retired to the more secluded and relaxed Library area. b. transitive (reflexive) in same sense. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (reflexive)] fersec1000 teec1275 voida1387 withdraw1390 takea1393 avoida1400 devoida1400 shifta1400 avyec1440 trussa1450 deferc1480 remove1530 convey1535 subtractc1540 subduce1542 retire?1548 substract1549 room1566 to take off1620 to make oneself scarce1809 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (reflexive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat recovera1470 umbedrawc1485 recoil1490 retreat1495 retire?1548 retray1562 ?1548 in A. I. Cameron Sc. Corr. Mary of Lorraine (1927) 239 I..hes mellit sa far thairin [sc. affairs of the realm] that I cwld nocht retyre me from daly service bwt..jopart off my honour. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccclvij^v The spoylers were wont to escape that waye, and to retyre them selues out of daunger. 1620 R. Brathwait Ess. Fiue Senses 76 Yet was that Power but an idle God, louing his rest and quiet, and retyring himselfe from the care of man or his affaires. 1635 J. Hawkins tr. P. Aretino Paraphr. Seaven Psalmes Prol. (Psalms vi) 4 Moreouer he retired himselfe into an obscure place vnder ground, as it were a prison of his sinne. 1650 J. Row & J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842) 488 Some fled to Ingland, some reteered themselves and keeped quyet. 1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 6. ⁋9 My desire..has been..to retire myself to some of our American plantations. ?1793 Minutes Evid. before Comm. Privileges 256 To reteir himself to live in Ireland. 1842 W. Hazlitt tr. M. de Montaigne Wks. Pref. p. viii I lately retired myself to my own house..to spend in privacy and repose the little remainder of time I have to live. 1884 W. Besant Dorothy Forster I. vii. 195 After making Rome the metropolis of the whole world, by a voluntary exile to retire himself from it, and to end his days in his own secluded villa. 1910 J. Bookwalter Rural versus Urban (1911) v. 66 Does not man, indeed, seek the true light and highest spirit of devotion by wholly retiring himself from the active world, and through solitary worship? 4. a. intransitive. Chiefly with to (also into). To return to a place visited habitually or frequently, typically for rest or relaxation. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat > to one's usual place or way of life retire1539 1539 R. Morison tr. Frontinus Strategemes & Policies Warre iii. sig. Iiiii ^v Scipio..began to assaute the other townes. and whan eche man was retired home to the defence of his owne, he toke Delminum, voyde of succours. 1554 J. Proctor Hist. Wyates Rebellion f. 15 The Herauld staied & did his message there... Which..was promise of pardone to as many as would retire to their houses..& become good subiectes. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) iii. 171 b It is his part, being retired into his owne house, to looke more pleasantly vppon them. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. viii. sig. T3^v Life ere long shall to her home retire. 1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage ii. xx. 223 The Emperour requested his helpe, to cause him to retire to his den. 1695 W. Congreve Love for Love iii. i. 52 I'll retire to my own Chamber, and think of what you have said. 1710 Tatler No. 157. ⁋3 I was no sooner retired to my Lodgings, but [etc.]. 1754 W. Dodd Sisters I. ii. i. 64 Let me advise you to retire home and sleep, and in a little time I'll wait upon you. 1774 D. Jones Jrnl. (1865) 114 When retired to my bed-chamber, thoughts crowded into my soul. 1820 Edinb. Mag. & Literary Misc. Dec. 488/2 Mrs Siddons..was allowed three pauses of half an hour each, when she retired into an adjoining room to refresh herself. 1837 M. W. Shelley Falkner I. vii. 138 She found that he had come back, and was retired to his room. 1850 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis II. i. 7 Harry..retired to his own apartments, where he stretched himself on his ottoman. 1920 H. Stuck Winter Circuit Arctic Coast v. 212 When all the others were retired to their quarters we had the spacious, well-lit chamber to ourselves. 1957 N. Coward Diary 1 Dec. (2000) 368 I have my suite at the Algonquin to retire to in between the shows on matinée days, and everything is jogging along. 2000 Guardian 28 Dec. ii. 7/5 Most of us retired to the TV room for the afternoon to watch the Green Mile. b. transitive (reflexive) in same sense. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > travel > aspects of travel > return > return to [verb (transitive)] recovera1425 retire1539 1539 Chron. of Calais (Camden) 170 The king's..pavilion, and certain others for other noble personages, to retire themselves into after they shalbe presented to his highnes. 1578 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 12 To depairt thame..furth of..Edinburgh..and..to reteir thame to thair awn dwelling places. 1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 58 You will please to retire your Selfe to your Closet. 1659 A. Hay Diary (1901) 50 I..then retired myself to my preparatioun and weeklie search, and had a very comfortable allowance in some meditations. 1715 Friendly Epist. One of People called Quakers 22 She retired herself into her Closet, and spent many Hours lamenting the Divisions of the Land. 1815 W. Wilberforce Let. 17 Dec. (1846) II. 165 I shall retire myself into my own room, and pray earnestly for you. 1894 K. P. Wormeley tr. H. de Balzac Catherine de Medici viii. 181 Hearing these words, the provost-marshal signed to the executioner and retired himself to the inner room. 1900 Trans. Kansas State Hist. Soc. 4 262 When day broke Walker ordered his men to scatter, and retired himself to the house of a friend to sleep. c. To go to bed or rest. (a) intransitive. With to. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > bed related to sleep or rest > go to bed or retire to rest [verb (intransitive)] > having withdrawn from company retire1567 1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 115^v The seruantes were retired to reste [Fr. se fassent retirez, It. si ritirassero], who for the most parte laye out of the house that night. 1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania 180 When each retired to their rest, shee went vnto her watch of endlesse thoughts. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 611 All things now retir'd to rest Mind us of like repose. View more context for this quotation 1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada ii. iv. iii. 133 Let him in pity, now, to rest retire. 1730 H. Fielding Rape upon Rape ii. xi. 28 She had taken Leave of me to retire to Rest. 1775 A. Burnaby Trav. Middle Settlements N.-Amer. 83 At their usual time the old couple retire to bed. 1813 H. Shelley in E. Dowden Life Shelley (1886) I. 352 On Friday night..we retired to bed between ten and eleven o'clock. 1867 Criminal Chronol. York Castle 175 The wife of the deceased, thinking him late, retired to rest. 1881 H. James Portrait of Lady I. vii. 82 She retired to rest with a sense of good fortune. 1918 J. M. Barrie What Every Woman Knows i. 20 The Wylies should have retired to rest without lifting that piece of coal off the fire. 1973 P. Campbell 35 Years on Job 130 My wife and I had retired to bed at the comparatively early hour of 5.30 p.m. 2000 J. Harris Blackberry Wine (2001) xxv. 128 Before retiring to his camp bed he inspected his ankle again. (b) intransitive. Without construction. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > bed related to sleep or rest > go to bed or retire to rest [verb (intransitive)] to go to (one's) resteOE to take (one's) restc1175 to go to bedc1275 to lie downc1275 reposec1485 down-lie1505 bed1635 to turn in1695 retire1696 lay1768 to go to roost1829 to turn or peak the flukes1851 kip1889 doss1896 to hit the hay1912 to hit the deck1918 to go down1922 to bunk down1940 to hit the sack1943 to sack out1946 to sack down1956 1696 C. Trotter Agnes de Castro v. i. sig. G^v 'Tis late, my Son, I'll leave you to retire, This Day's Fatigue, and Grief, requires some Rest. 1752 H. Fielding Amelia IV. x. iii. 36 They then sat down to half an Hour's chearful Conversation; after which they retired all in the most perfect good Humour. 1775 C. Johnston Pilgrim 181 Our fatigue making us want rest more than any other refreshment, we soon retired. 1823 T. Moore Mem. (1853) IV. 72 The rest of the day he is at the disposal of everybody, and rarely retires at night till others do. 1861 O. W. Holmes Elsie Venner xxv. 280 At an hour when most of the Rockland people had ‘retired’, or, in vulgar language, ‘gone to b—d’. 1886 E. Dowden Life Shelley I. 67 When the college clock struck two, Hogg would rise..and retire for the night. 1919 J. Reed Ten Days that shook World v. 112 Hundreds of thousands of people retired at a prudent hour, got up early, and went to work. 1942 E. Langley Pea-pickers iii. xix. 290 Tired out, they retired early and lay in their beds, fully clothed, even to hats and leggings. 2000 Chicago Sun-Times (Nexis) 9 June 42 It feels good to retire at night not having to worry about bills. 5. a. intransitive. To move to another place; to go away, depart, leave. Also with from, to. Also figurative and transitive (reflexive). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] wendeOE i-wite971 ashakec975 shakeOE to go awayOE witea1000 afareOE agoOE atwendOE awayOE to wend awayOE awendOE gangOE rimeOE flitc1175 to fare forthc1200 depart?c1225 part?c1225 partc1230 to-partc1275 biwitec1300 atwitea1325 withdrawa1325 to draw awayc1330 passc1330 to turn one's (also the) backc1330 lenda1350 begonec1370 remuea1375 voidc1374 removec1380 to long awaya1382 twinc1386 to pass one's wayc1390 trussc1390 waive1390 to pass out ofa1398 avoida1400 to pass awaya1400 to turn awaya1400 slakec1400 wagc1400 returnc1405 to be gonea1425 muck1429 packc1450 recede1450 roomc1450 to show (a person) the feetc1450 to come offc1475 to take one's licence1475 issue1484 devoidc1485 rebatea1500 walka1500 to go adieua1522 pikea1529 to go one's ways1530 retire?1543 avaunt1549 to make out1558 trudge1562 vade?1570 fly1581 leave1593 wag1594 to get off1595 to go off1600 to put off1600 shog1600 troop1600 to forsake patch1602 exit1607 hence1614 to give offa1616 to take off1657 to move off1692 to cut (also slip) the painter1699 sheera1704 to go about one's business1749 mizzle1772 to move out1792 transit1797–1803 stump it1803 to run away1809 quit1811 to clear off1816 to clear out1816 nash1819 fuff1822 to make (take) tracks (for)1824 mosey1829 slope1830 to tail out1830 to walk one's chalks1835 to take away1838 shove1844 trot1847 fade1848 evacuate1849 shag1851 to get up and get1854 to pull out1855 to cut (the) cable(s)1859 to light out1859 to pick up1872 to sling one's Daniel or hook1873 to sling (also take) one's hook1874 smoke1893 screw1896 shoot1897 voetsak1897 to tootle off1902 to ship out1908 to take a (run-out, walk-out, etc.) powder1909 to push off1918 to bugger off1922 biff1923 to fuck off1929 to hit, split or take the breeze1931 to jack off1931 to piss offa1935 to do a mick1937 to take a walk1937 to head off1941 to take a hike1944 moulder1945 to chuff off1947 to get lost1947 to shoot through1947 skidoo1949 to sod off1950 peel1951 bug1952 split1954 poop1961 mugger1962 frig1965 ?1543 J. Clerke tr. D. de San Pedro Certayn Treatye sig. P.i There cam so many people into the churche, that the were constrayned..to retyre from thens. 1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xlv. f. 254 And Emilia, who had followed her mystresse into the chambre,..demaunded of her, wherefore she was retired from a company so honorable. 1597 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 589 Quhill danger and dispair reteirit, Experience came in. c1600 A. Montgomerie Poems (2000) I. 61 If I mis to mend it as I micht I can reteir vhan resone thinks it richt. c1614 W. Mure tr. Virgil Dido & Æneas ii. in Wks. (1898) I. 330 Till last the prise is wonne,..And honour prostrate, blushing did reteare. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 237 Whom not to offend, With reverence I must meet, and thou retire . View more context for this quotation 1706 R. Estcourt Fair Example ii. i Here comes my Lady, retire you, 'tis not proper you shou'd be seen first with me. 1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. vi. 258 To them the King. No longer I detain Your friendly care: retire, ye virgin train! 1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. p. xxix After Dinner, when the Ladies retired to their Tea, and left us over a Bottle of Wine. 1795 W. Paley View Evidences Christianity (ed. 3) II. ii. ii. 51 The true virtue is that..which retires from them all to the single internal purpose of pleasing God. 1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott IV. v. 145 When the ladies retired from the dinner-table I happened to sit next him. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Lady Clara Vere de Vere in Poems (new ed.) I. 155 At me you smiled, but unbeguiled I saw the snare, and I retired. 1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd I. vii. 80 The bailiff was pointed out to Gabriel, who..retired with him to talk over the necessary preliminaries of hiring. a1919 L. F. Baum Royal Bk. of Oz (1921) xiv. 196 If the three honorable Princes will retire themselves, I will speak with my grandsons. 1947 C. Mackenzie Whisky Galore xv. 205 The Sergeant-major saluted and retired. 1995 V. Chandra Red Earth & Pouring Rain (1996) 157 At first vaids and physicians and surgeons were summoned, but they retired baffled. b. transitive. To draw or pull back, esp. to a previous position; to retract. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (transitive)] > pull > pull back reduce?a1425 retract?a1475 retraha1513 retire1594 disadvance1596 repair1596 rehale1613 repull1632 revulsec1694 1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. C4 The lockes..Ech one by him inforst retires his ward. View more context for this quotation 1597 P. Lowe Art Chirurg. (1634) 171 Then retire the needle the way that it went in. 1631 R. Bolton Instr. Right Comf. Affl. Consciences 4 All the creatures then, pull in their hornes, retire their stings, bite in their poyson. 1743 Erskine tr. A. F. Prévost d'Exiles Mem. & Adventures Marquis de Bretagne & Duc d'Harcourt II. 22 Nor had she even the Power to retire her Hand, which he held clasped in his for above half an Hour. 1886 M. F. Sheldon tr. G. Flaubert Salammbô vii. 178 Straining their arms in the effort to retire from its rings the enormous bar securing the door. 1912 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 13 Aug. 442/1 Means for turning the bell-crank lever for retiring the bolt. c. intransitive. Chiefly poetic and literary. To disappear, vanish (from sight). ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > be or become invisible [verb (intransitive)] > vanish or disappear formeltc893 wendOE witea1000 aworthc1000 fleec1200 fleetc1200 withdraw1297 vanish1303 voidc1374 unkithea1400 startc1405 disappearc1425 disparishc1425 to fall awayc1443 evanish?a1475 vade1495 sinka1500 vade1530 fly1535 fadea1538 melt?1567 dispear1600 relinquish1601 foist1603 dispersea1616 to vanish (melt, etc.) into thin aira1616 dissipate1626 retire1647 evaporate1713 merge1802 illude1820 to foam off1826 dislimn1833 furl1844 to step out1844 evanesce1855 shade1880 wisp1883 to go to the winds1884 walk1898 to do a disappearing act1913 to go west1916 to do (or take) a fade1949 to phase out1970 1647 H. More Philos. Poems 262 You before might turn to earth and mire What into ancient air so quickly doth retire. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 144 From his Eyes the fleeting Fair Retir'd like subtile Smoke dissolv'd in Air. View more context for this quotation a1717 T. Parnell Night Piece on Death in Coll. Mod. Poems (1762) 13 The grounds which on the right aspire, In dimness from the view retire. 1737 H. Baker Medulla Poetarum Romanorum II. 497 Whene'er he [sc. the sun] mottles o'er his new-born Light, Or masks in Clouds, or half retires from Sight, Suspect the Show'r. 1802 F. O'Neill Poet. Ess. 23 Now his red orb collected in his fires, Shorn of his rays, A fainter light displays, And from our views in glaring pomp retires. 1864 Ld. Tennyson Voyage 17 How oft we saw the Sun retire, And burn the threshold of the night! 1905 G. B. Brown William Hogarth vii. 182 The last-named print..brings us into contact again with Hogarth's personality, which, through the last three chapters, has retired from view behind his works. 2001 C. Cravens tr. V. Páral Lovers & Murderers 80 Among the stumps of rotted trees, the trampled grass retired from sight beneath three thousand naked, sweaty bodies. d. intransitive. To lie further back or away; to appear to recede. Also: to slope backwards. Also figurative. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > unevenness > condition or fact of receding > recede or form recess [verb (intransitive)] retirea1701 retreat1792 indenta1806 a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 12 The Mountains at some places approach nearer the Sea; at other, retire farther off. 1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 216 The Wall always diminishes on the Inside, and retires and is lessened but little on the exteriour Surface. 1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. x. 345 The gothic features of this antient mansion successively appeared—first an embattled turret, rising above the trees—then the broken arch of an immense gate-way, retiring beyond them. 1837 B. Disraeli Venetia III. 1 An undulating margin that now retired into bays of the most picturesque form. 1859 T. J. Gullick & J. Timbs Painting 228 In the foreground, and in parts not intended to ‘retire’ the ‘impaste’ should be bold. 1939 W. H. Auden in W. H. Auden & C. Isherwood Journey to War 260 In front, maturity, as he ascended, Retired like a horizon from the child. e. intransitive. Of a jury: to leave the courtroom to deliberate on the verdict of a trial. ΚΠ 1703 Exact Abridgm. Tryals 263 The Jury retired, and within half an Hour, brought them all in Not Guilty. 1794 Trial Warren Hastings I. Pref. xliii The jury retired; read the whole pamphlet through, and brought in a verdict of Not Guilty. 1841 Times 17 Mar. 6 The jury retired to consider their verdict. 1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities ii. iii. 50 My Lord..signified his pleasure that they should retire under watch and ward. 1920 Michigan Law Rev. 19 116 Seven of the jurors had not been sworn to try the case before the jury retired to consider their verdict. 1951 L. P. Hartley My Fellow Devils xxvii. 288 The door through which the jury had retired stayed obstinately shut. 1985 R. C. A. White Admin. of Justice ii. v. 85 Before a majority verdict can be returned, the jury must have retired for at least two hours in an attempt to come to a unanimous decision. 2006 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 2 Apr. ii. 3/2 The court may retain alternate jurors after the jury retires to deliberate. †6. a. transitive. To pull back (the mind, thoughts, etc.) from an idea or subject. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > memory > faulty recollection > recollect wrongly [verb (transitive)] > forget, cease to know forgetc888 unremember1484 tine1513 lose1530 retire1549 unknowa1586 forlet1813 disremember1815 1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Siii Wherupon Plato defineth Philosophie to bee a meditacion or remembraunce of death, in as muche as it plucketh and retyreth [L. abducat] the mind of man from visible and corporall thyng[e]s, to those that are inuisible and ghostly. 1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 145 When our externall senses are retired and withdrawen from doing their dueties. 1607 S. Hieron Abridgem. of Gospell in Wks. (1620) I. 156 To labour to pull and retire our affections from earthly things. 1619 W. Sclater Expos. 1 Thess. Ep. Ded. sig. A2^v To retire my minde, from the tumultuous hurly-burlies it is tossed withall. a1718 W. Penn Fruits Father's Love (1726) ii. 26 So soon as you wake, retire your Mind into a pure Silence, from all Thoughts and Ideas of Worldly Things. b. transitive. To dissuade, deter; to restrain (a person) from a course of action, an opinion, etc. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > specifically from doing something conclude1382 restrain1384 refraina1398 keepa1400 to coart of1430 revokec1450 stop1488 contain1523 retract1548 stay1560 retire1567 straiten1622 confine1651 obligec1661 1567 E. Hake tr. Thomas à Kempis Imitation of Christ iii. viii. f. 69^v Those are in the greater daunger, bicause they would not be retyred from the opinion that they had once conceyued in themselues. 1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor i. i. sig. B How happy would I estimate my selfe, Could I..retyre my sonne, From one vayne course of study he affects. View more context for this quotation 1607 G. Chapman Bussy D'Ambois ii. 475 I feare my strangenesse will retire him; if he goe back, I die. ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxii. 68 Thus wept the old king, and tore off his white hair; yet all these Retir'd not Hector. 7. †a. intransitive. To return; to come back. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > return towards point of departure repaira1325 returna1325 rebounda1382 redounda1382 recovera1393 to go backc1425 revertc1475 renew1488 reverse1542 retire1567 revolve1587 reciprocate1623 retrovert1639 to get back1664 recur1719 hoicks1762 boomerang1900 1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Dviij^v Expulse nature with a forke Yet she will still retire. 1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 5 Though the Fawlcon be reclaimed to y^e fist she retyreth to hir haggardnes. 1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 127 But to retyre to our purpose. 1613 J. Davies Muses-teares sig. A2 Princely-perfection being past the prime..Is turn'd into the Roote,..Ner'e to retire till God in Flesh returne! 1692 in Misc. Sc. Burgh Rec. (1881) 57 Once to Bilbo, and not yet reteired. 1731 T. Dale tr. N. Regnault Philos. Conversat. I. 113 The Air being expelled, but victorious in its Return, forces the Needle to retire toward the Loadstone. †b. transitive. To recover, regain; to bring or get back. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] > again or back acovera1225 covera1300 gain-covera1300 to get againc1380 recovera1387 becoverc1400 recounsel?a1425 recurea1425 win1489 redeem1526 readept1537 rehave1541 recuperate1542 regain1548 reobtain1579 retire1584 reget1585 to get back1587 retrieve1589 reprise1590 reprocure1590 reattain1595 relieve1596 recompassc1604 reacquire1627 reacquist1635 recruit1656 1584 King James VI & I Poems (1955) I. 13 Then wrangles thair Men killd, vnkilld, whill Parcas breath reteir. 1586–7 Warrender Papers in R. S. Rait & A. I. Cameron King James Secret (1927) 152 Retire the inclosit from his majestie and keipe it. 1588 N. Yonge Musica Transalpina sig. C.^v Of death so sweete, so happy, & so desired, That to dye so againe, their lyfe retyred. a1641 T. Heywood & W. Rowley Fortune by Land & Sea (1655) i. i. 5 Gentle Sir, help to retire his spirits over-travell'd with age and sorrow. ?c1682 J. Warburton Treat. Hist. Guernsey (1822) 92 In two cases, inheritance given to rent may be retired, or redeemed by the next kindred. †c. transitive. To rally (troops). Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (transitive)] > rally rely?a1400 re-allyc1485 re-enforce1594 retire1596 rally1600 rallier1619 steady1901 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 299 Al the rest he had put to flicht, gif be the Erle of Varuik thay had not bene helpet, reteired, and with a stout courage put in ordour agane. d. transitive. Originally Scottish. Originally: to recover, retrieve (a document detailing an obligation to be discharged, esp. upon fulfilment of the obligation). Now usually: to withdraw (a bond, bill of exchange, stock, etc.) from operation or currency by settling the debt it represents; to pay or settle (a debt), consequently withdrawing the relevant bond or similar from currency. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [verb (transitive)] > use bills of exchange protest1479 retire1610 imprest1617 to take up1655 honour1664 discount1671 indulge1766 dishonour1811 cover1866 sight1866 protect1884 1610 in J. Dalyell & J. Beveridge Binns Papers (1938) 20 I pray you, brother, adverteis me with the first occasione when thir soumes is payit that I may reteir my obligatione. 1681 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. i. vii. 80 This presumption is stronger in relation to Bonds, which are most ordinarly taken away, by retiring the same without taking Discharge. 1684 in J. Lauder Decisions Lords of Council (1759) I. 268 What they know of the trust or manner of retiring that debt. 1693 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. (ed. 2) iv. xlv. 713 It was not a Right to be Retired upon payment. 1727 in Trans. Inverness Sci. Soc. 1 (1895) 225 [She] gave me Three pounds sterlin money to keep for her—for which gave my note, payable on demand... Retired said note from her. 1766 W. Gordon Gen. Counting-house 12 Bills are..credited as they are retired. 1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well II. ii. 43 Two of his notes for L.100 each,..which he thinks nae mair of retiring, than he does of paying the national debt. 1849 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. (new ed.) IV. xxiv. 366 Territorial mandates..were intended to retire the assignats at the rate of thirty for one. 1854 Comm. Bench Rep. XV. 94 If an acceptor retires a bill at maturity, he takes it entirely from circulation, and the bill is in effect paid. 1901 G. W. Power et al. Australasian Ann. Digest 1900 20 B., being indebted to A., gave, as security for the debt, a promissory note..[along with] a covenant to pay and retire the promissory note on its due date. 1909 Public Ledger (Philadelphia) 24 June 10/3 The purpose to retire stock would be to avoid the embarrassment of claims from the preferred stockholders. 1943 Sun (Baltimore) 2 July 17/1 The carriers purchase and retire outstanding bonds out of wartime earnings. 2005 L. H. Kaufman Leaders Count iii. 91 Enough was retained that the Santa Fe was able to retire $100 million in debt, and by 1945 all callable bonds had been paid. 8. a. intransitive. To leave office, employment, or service permanently, now esp. on reaching pensionable age; to stop working. Also with from. ΘΚΠ society > authority > office > withdrawing from or vacating office > vacate office [verb (intransitive)] resign1395 recede1452 retirec1598 to take, lay down, resign the fascesa1625 to go out1642 to sing one's nunc dimittis1642 to make one's bowa1656 to lay down1682 to swear off1698 vacate1812 to send in one's papers1872 to step down1890 to stand down1926 society > occupation and work > lack of work > [verb (intransitive)] > vacate an office or position > retire recede1452 retirec1598 to make one's bowa1656 to hang up one's fiddle1833 c1598 [implied in: J. Ley in T. Hearne Coll. Curious Disc. Eminent Antiquaries (1720) xix. 83 For that they were old retired soldiers, they were not only free from service, and taxes, presented wheresoever they came, [etc.]. (at retired adj. 4)]. 1650 in A. Macdonald & J. Dennistoun Misc. Maitland Club (1840) II. 485 As I cam in upon his majesties warrand, so upon his letteris did I ly asyd all intrestis and reteir. 1667 S. Pepys Diary 30 Aug. (1974) VIII. 409 He did not think any man fit to serve a prince that did not know how to retire and live a country life. 1669 R. Montagu in Buccleuch MSS (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 424 You and the Duke of Buckingham..would both desire leave to retire. 1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull in his Senses iv. 18 I have..a small Pittance left, with which I might retire. 1763 London Evening-post 22 Nov. Jacob Snelgrove, formerly a commander in the West-India trade,..had for some time retired from that employment. 1806 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 15 360 Let the surgeons of the former retire upon an annuity, and let those in the latter be continued. 1876 G. E. Voyle & G. de Saint-Clair-Stevenson Mil. Dict. (ed. 3) 340/2 After 30 years' service..an officer can retire on full pay. 1908 Daily Chron. 16 Apr. 6/3 Five members of the Administration have retired... The average age of the out-goers is 61. 1958 Connecticut Hist. Soc. Apr. 39 He was then about seventy-two years old and had probably retired from his very strenuous occupation. 1969 R. Salerno & J. S. Tompkins Crime Confederation 91 The Underboss may, or may not, succeed to the top job when the Boss dies or retires. 2004 High Country News 26 Apr. 9/2 A way to clear the agencies of dead wood, prodding older employees to retire. b. intransitive. To leave permanently one's office or employment and move to a certain place, esp. for quiet or seclusion. ΚΠ 1782 H. Walpole Catal. Engravers (new ed.) 214 He [sc. George Bickham] retired to Richmond, and..sold part of his plates and stock in trade by auction. 1857 J. Doran Monarchs Retired from Business II. 167 He [sc. Cormac] contentedly resigned his power to his son. Cormac retired to a small thatched cabin at Kells. 1872 Lancet 7 Dec. 833/2 He sent in his resignation, and retired to the South of France, where he continued to reside until the time of his death. 1940 G. Morphett Simple Story Rural Devel. 4 In 1910 we sold the farm on a walk-in walk-out basis and retired to Adelaide. 1968 F. Exley Fan's Notes ix. 384 The generation which will all retire to the great American Southwest, where under dry, brilliant, and perpetual suns they will all live to be a hundred and fifty. 1994 Voice 18 Oct. (24 Hrs. Suppl.) 15/3 Maria is a London cab driver who wants to retire to Antigua. 2004 W. St. John Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer 112 He and his wife retired to South Florida, only to have their house vacuumed off the earth by Hurricane Andrew. c. transitive. To compel (a person) to leave active military service. Later also: to remove (a person) from office or employment, esp. before the usual retirement age. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > discharge from service > [verb (transitive)] cash1564 cast1587 cashier1599 to muster out of service1834 retire1852 pluck1911 society > authority > office > removal from office or authority > remove from office or authority [verb (transitive)] outOE deposec1300 remuec1325 to put out1344 to set downc1369 deprivec1374 outputa1382 removea1382 to throw outa1382 to put downc1384 privea1387 to set adowna1387 to put out of ——?a1400 amovec1425 disappoint1434 unmakec1475 dismiss1477 dispoint1483 voidc1503 to set or put beside (or besides) the cushion1546 relieve1549 cass1550 displace1553 unauthorize1554 to wring out1560 seclude1572 eject1576 dispost1577 decass1579 overboard1585 cast1587 sequester1587 to put to grass1589 cashier1592 discompose1599 abdicate1610 unseat1611 dismount1612 disoffice1627 to take off1642 unchair1645 destitute1653 lift1659 resign1674 quietus1688 superannuate1692 derange1796 shelve1812 shelf1819 Stellenbosch1900 defenestrate1917 axe1922 retire1961 society > occupation and work > lack of work > [verb (transitive)] > retire (a person) yellow1820 retire1961 1852 Democratic Rev. Aug. 161/2 Forty of the sixty-eight captains should be retired for incapacity. 1870 Daily News 27 June That a flag officer..should be compulsorily retired on attaining a certain age. 1894 Times 29 May 11/3 Admiral..Hamilton..was retired from the active list under the age clause. 1914 Ann. Rep. War Dept. I. 153 Two officers examined were found physically disqualified and are to be retired when entitled to promotion. 1945 Ann. Reg. July 113/1 If even 200 [captains] were retired, the average age of those advanced to the top of the list would be 60. 1961 M. Spark Prime of Miss Jean Brodie iii. 71 She had been retired before time. 1995 Economist 11 Feb. 131 An increase in the number of people who have retired—or been retired—at the age of 55 or earlier. 9. a. intransitive. Cricket. Of a batter: (originally) to leave the field after being dismissed; to go out; (now usually) to leave the field without being dismissed, as for injury or illness, with the option of returning later in the innings (cf. to retire hurt at Phrases). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > bat [verb (intransitive)] > retire retire1801 1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod ii. iii. 84 If he proves successful the batsman retires from the play, and another of his party succeeds. 1840 Peter Parley's Ann. 132 If the ball strikes the wicket and knocks off the bail, the striker is out and retires from the play. 1851 W. Clarke Pract. Hints Cricket in W. Bolland Cricket Notes 128 You must..make the man play out... Perhaps before that is the case, you will have caused him to retire [by driving him on to his wicket]. 1863 Frederick Lillywhite's Cricket Scores & Biogr. Cricketers III. 62 Wansell..was given out unfairly, and refused to retire. 1901 H. Bleackley Tales of Stumps iv. 105 Amidst..loud applause, he retired with thirty-eight runs to his credit. 1966 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 10 Mar. 20/4 The batsman had to retire, but was back at the fall of the eighth wicket. 2001 Coventry Evening Tel. (Nexis) 30 July 32 Mark Butcher was struck on the head... The England batsman retired after making three from 10 deliveries. b. intransitive. Sport. To withdraw from a race or match, esp. because of injury; to pull out. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > win, lose, or score [verb (intransitive)] > retire or be forced out retire1846 1846 Glasgow Herald 25 Aug. The Rose having won the cup on the preceding day, after rounding the first flag-boat, retired from the contest. 1879 Bell's Life in London 9 Aug. 3/4 Hawkes had fallen and cut himself badly, and, after two attempts to renew the race, had to retire. 1907 Automotor Jrnl. 6 July 946 Nordenfeldt retired at Perth owing to a fracture of the forward universal joint. 1977 Times 15 July (Motor Racing Suppl.) p. vi/1 James Hunt..was put out of the race by a crash... His German team-mate..had retired three laps earlier. 2007 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 22 May 14 He also experienced spasms in his back when playing doubles..last month, prompting him to retire after one set. c. transitive. U.S. Baseball. To cause (a batter or team) to be out; to put out. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > play baseball [verb (transitive)] > put out > a batter to catch out1855 retire1870 to strike out1939 1870 N.-Y. Times 5 July 5/6 Zettlein and Pike were both retired by Tracey, who caught them on the fly. 1889 N. F. Pfeffer Scientific Ball 33 Runners move up every time the ball is pitched;..the clever baseman will be guided by the action of the man he wants to retire. 1917 C. Mathewson Second Base Sloan 180 The first batsman was retired on an easy toss from Chase to Jim. 1949 News-Herald (Marshfield, Wisconsin) 19 July 9/4 Nowitzke gobbled up Bauer's grounder and threw him out to retire the side. 1972 N.Y. Times 4 June v. 1/7 Lyle retired the first 11 batters and wound up allowing just three singles. 2007 Wall St. Jrnl. 7 Sept. w9C/1 We'll use off-base percentage (OFB). OFB shows how often a pitcher retires the batter he faces. 10. a. intransitive. To withdraw permanently from one's usual activity or sphere of activity. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] > avoid > withdraw (from a task or undertaking) vacate1665 retire1807 to pull out1884 to bow out1942 1807 Monthly Mirror Mar. 218 Mrs. Didier, so long and so justly a favourite at the Bath theatre, has retired from the mimic scene. 1829 Times 1 Oct. 3/2 The report of Lord Mountcharles's being about to retire from the turf is void of truth. 1857 C. Dickens Let. 13 July (1995) VIII. 377 He retired from the stage early in life. 1910 Times 28 June 11/6 He then acceded to the wishes of his countrymen and revoked his determination to retire from public life. 1948 Warren (Pa.) Times-Mirror 17 Aug. 8/6 George Herman (Babe) Ruth..retired from playing in big league baseball in 1935. 1983 M. Cohen Cafe le Dog in Life on Planet 172 Mauriac retired from the writing of novels and turned his teacherly attentions to composing the memoirs of his sanctimonious life. 2009 Observer (Nexis) 15 Feb. 12 His [sc. Cary Grant's] reputation has grown since he retired from the screen in 1966 at the height of his stardom. b. transitive. To withdraw (a person or animal) from an activity or sphere of activity. Also in extended use: to withdraw (a vehicle, an item, etc.) from use. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > cause to be idle or inactive [verb (transitive)] > withdraw from usual activity retire1881 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > non-use > refrain from using [verb (transitive)] > withdraw from use repeal1573 strike1793 retire1881 decommission1922 the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > unaccustomedness or state of disuse > give up a habit or practice [verb (transitive)] > cause one to or disaccustom > withdraw from usual activity retire1881 1881 ‘M. Twain’ Prince & Pauper xix. 244 He was so awkward at this service that she retired him from it. 1883 Lisbon (Dakota Territory) Star 12 Oct. Eighteen packet boats have been retired by several of the packet lines.., owing to the low stage of water. 1888 Amer. Humorist 2 June 5/2 The Sale, after this race, became known, and Mr. Bonner retired him [sc. a horse] from the track. 1918 H. C. Adams Amer. Railway Accounting v. 94 A reserve against which the cost of replacing important pieces of property may be charged when, for any reason, such property is retired. 1969 Proc. Geol. Soc. Aug. 154 It has been agreed (by the Stratigraphy Committee) to retire the word ‘Rhaetic’. 1974 Sci. Amer. Dec. 139/1 This material served for about a year before I retired it. 2003 RCM & E (Radio Control Models & Electronics) Dec. 76/4 There were thousands upon thousands of aeroplanes which had been retired from service and were awaiting the blow torch to cut them up. Phrases Cricket. to retire hurt: (of a batter) to leave the field due to injury, with the option of returning later in the innings. Cf. sense 9a. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > bat [verb (intransitive)] > retire > hurt to retire hurt1844 1844 Jackson's Oxf. Jrnl. 18 May 3/4 S. H. Colston, Esq. retired hurt..1. 1892 John Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack (ed. 29) 209 Mr. E. C. Streatfield (Pembroke), not out 6—retired hurt 19. 1925 A. Christie Secret of Chimneys xv. 141 Poor little Michael didn't get it [sc. a disappointing answer] as straight from the shoulder as he might have done. But he retired hurt all the same. 1977 Arab Times 3 Dec. 9/6 Kurian had to retire hurt after scoring 11 runs. 2009 Coventry Tel. (Nexis) 9 Mar. He was forced to retire hurt with a hamstring strain, sustained as he was running the single to reach his 10th Test hundred. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.¹?1538v.1533
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