1. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line.
With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated.
Southey. 2. To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.
As when his virtues, shining upon others,
Heat them and they retort that heat again
To the first giver.
Shak. 3. To return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity.
And with retorted scorn his back he turned.
Milton. Retort
(Re*tort"), v. i. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. Pope.
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.
This is called the retort courteous.
Shak. 2. [F. retorte 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.
Tubulated retort (Chem.), a retort having a tubulure for the introduction or removal of the substances
which are to be acted upon.
Syn. — Repartee; answer. — 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.
Retorter
(Re*tort"er) n. One who retorts.
Retortion
(Re*tor"tion) n. [Cf. F. rétorsion. See Retort, v. t.]
1. Act of retorting or throwing back; reflection or turning back. [Written also retorsion.]
It was, however, necessary to possess some single term expressive of this intellectual retortion.
Sir W.
Hamilton. 2. (Law) Retaliation. Wharton.
Retortive
(Re*tort"ive) a. Containing retort.
Retoss
(Re*toss") v. t. To toss back or again.
Retouch
(Re*touch") v. t. [Pref. re- + touch: cf. F. retoucher.]
1. To touch again, or rework, in order to improve; to revise; as, to retouch a picture or an essay.
2. (Photog.) To correct or change, as a negative, by handwork.
