Retort

Retort
Retort Re*tort", n. [See {Retort}, v. t.] 1. The return of, or reply to, an argument, charge, censure, incivility, taunt, or witticism; a quick and witty or severe response. [1913 Webster]

This is called the retort courteous. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. [F. retorte (cf. Sp. retorta), fr. L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere. So named from its bent shape. See {Retort}, v. t.] (Chem. & the Arts) A vessel in which substances are subjected to distillation or decomposition by heat. It is made of different forms and materials for different uses, as a bulb of glass with a curved beak to enter a receiver for general chemical operations, or a cylinder or semicylinder of cast iron for the manufacture of gas in gas works. [1913 Webster]

{Tubulated retort} (Chem.), a retort having a tubulure for the introduction or removal of the substances which are to be acted upon. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Repartee; answer.

Usage: {Retort}, {Repartee}. A retort is a short and pointed reply, turning back on an assailant the arguments, censure, or derision he had thrown out. A repartee is usually a good-natured return to some witty or sportive remark. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • retort n — retort v …   English expressions

  • Retort — Re*tort , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Retorted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Retorting}.] [L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere; pref. re re + torquere to turn twist. See {Torsion}, and cf. {Retort}, n., 2.] 1. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • retort — Ⅰ. retort [1] ► VERB ▪ say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation. ► NOUN ▪ a sharp or witty reply. ORIGIN Latin retorquere twist back . Ⅱ. retort [2] …   English terms dictionary

  • retort — vb rejoin, reply, *answer, respond retort n rejoinder, answer, reply, response (see under ANSWER vb 1) Analogous words: *retaliation, reprisal, revenge: repartee (see WIT) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • retort — [n] snappy answer antiphon, back answer, back talk, comeback, cooler, counter, crack*, gag*, jape, jest, joke, lip*, parting shot*, quip, rejoinder, repartee, reply, reprisal, respond, response, retaliation, return, revenge, riposte, sally,… …   New thesaurus

  • Retort — Re*tort , v. i. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. Pope. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Retort — Retort. См. Реторта. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) …   Словарь металлургических терминов

  • retort — I verb answer, answer back, come back, counter, countercharge, counterclaim, make a rebuttal, parry, rebut, rejoin, replicate, reply, requite, respond, respondere, return, riposte, say in reply, snap back, surrebut, surrejoin II index answer… …   Law dictionary

  • retort — (v.) 1550s, from L. retortus, pp. of retorquere turn back, from re back (see RE (Cf. re )) + torquere to twist (see THWART (Cf. thwart)). The noun is c.1600, from the verb …   Etymology dictionary

  • retort — retort1 [ri tôrt′] vt. [< L retortus, pp. of retorquere, to twist back < re , back + torquere, to twist: see TORT] 1. to turn (an insult, epithet, deed, etc.) back upon the person from whom it came 2. to answer (an argument, etc.) in kind 3 …   English World dictionary

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