retort

retort
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. to say in reply or response
vi.
to reply, esp. in a sharp, quick, or witty way, or in kind
n.
1. a quick, sharp, or witty reply, esp. one that turns the words of the previous speaker back upon that speaker
2. the act or practice of making such reply
SYN.- ANSWER
retort2 [ri tôrt′]
n.
[Fr retorte < ML retorta < L, fem. of retortus: see RETORT1]
1. a container, generally of glass and with a long tube, in which substances are distilled, as in a laboratory
2. a vessel in which ore is heated to extract a metal, coal is heated to produce gas, etc.

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • retort n — retort v …   English expressions

  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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

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