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Webster 1913 Edition


Redoubt

Re-doubt′

(r?-dout′)
,
Noun.
[F.
redoute
, fem., It.
ridotto
, LL.
reductus
, literally, a retreat, from L.
reductus
drawn back, retired, p. p. of
reducere
to lead or draw back; cf. F.
réduit
, also fr. LL.
reductus
. See
Reduce
, and cf.
Reduct
,
Réduit
,
Ridotto
.]
(Fort.)
(a)
A small, and usually a roughly constructed, fort or outwork of varying shape, commonly erected for a temporary purpose, and without flanking defenses, – used esp. in fortifying tops of hills and passes, and positions in hostile territory.
(b)
In permanent works, an outwork placed within another outwork. See F and i in Illust. of
Ravelin
.
[Written also
redout
.]

Re-doubt′

,
Verb.
T.
[F.
redouter
, formerly also spelt
redoubter
; fr. L. pref.
re-
re- +
dubitare
to doubt, in LL., to fear. See
Doubt
.]
To stand in dread of; to regard with fear; to dread.
[R.]

Definition 2024


redoubt

redoubt

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Noun

redoubt (plural redoubts)

  1. A small, temporary, military fortification.
  2. A reinforced refuge; a fort.
  3. A place of safety or refuge.
    • 2014, Paul Salopek, Blessed. Cursed. Claimed., National Geographic (December 2014)
      To the south, the vast geometrical deserts of Arabian nomads, a redoubt of feral movement, of fickle winds, of open space, of saddle leather—home to the wild Bedouin tribes.
Translations

Verb

redoubt (third-person singular simple present redoubts, present participle redoubting, simple past and past participle redoubted)

  1. (transitive) To fortify, to make into a stronghold.
    • 1769, John Knox, An Historical Journal Of The Campaigns in North-America, page 72
      By the time that our troops had taken a little refreshment, a quantity of intrenching tools were brought a-shore, and the regiments were employed in redoubting our ground, and landing some cannon and ammunition.
    • 1815, William Smith, History of Canada: From Its First Discovery, to the Year 1791, page 35
      I have been employed from the day of action to that of the capitulation, in redoubting our Camp beyond insult
    • 1976, Canadian Historic Sites; Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History: Lieux Historiques Canadiens; Cahiers D'archéologie Et D'histoire
      The Commanding Royal Engineer in Canada again brought forward the earlier plan for redoubting the Quebec towers.

Etymology 2

From Old French redouter, from Latin dubitāre (doubt) prefixed with re-. The b was later added back in this word, and the related doubt and redoubtable, to reflect their Latin source.

Pronunciation

Verb

redoubt (third-person singular simple present redoubts, present participle redoubting, simple past and past participle redoubted)

  1. (archaic) To dread.
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 3

re- + doubt

Alternative forms

  • re-doubt

Pronunciation

Verb

redoubt (third-person singular simple present redoubts, present participle redoubting, simple past and past participle redoubted)

  1. (rare) To doubt again.
    • 1601, R. Broughton, An apologicall epistle, page 20
      Neither any of ſo many hundreds of expleaded, or nowe raigning hereſies, or any that ſhall ariſe hereafter, nor the Religion of Martine Luther so often profeſſed, and both priuately and publickly recanted, altered, changed, doubted, and redoubted by himſelfe, as his owne works and all proteſtants doe witneſſe...
    • 1860, George Augustus Sala, Looking at Life: Or, Thoughts and Things
      Herr Fessler, in the true spirit of a metaphysical Zittémteur, has taken the subject up in the most orthodox style of Fog; descanting, and doubting, and redoubting, until the Fog becomes positively impervious
    • 1951, Sam Hood, "Cigaret Dealers See Red (Stamps)", Pittsburgh Press
      "At first we didn't think it was Annabelle. We doubted and redoubted it. But we're almost certain it was now, although there is a difference in her voice."

Noun

redoubt (plural redoubts)

  1. (rare) The return of doubt.
    • 1963, Clarence J. Crossland, The lady balances her scales
      Undeterred by humble beginning, undaunted by frustrations imposed by others of lesser stature, undismayed by the doubts and redoubts of personal, political and elemental forces, he persevered, he pursued and he prevailed
    • 1977, Saul Finkel, The circular seesaw
      My stock is a 3-1 bet to split by then, providing I have the guts to stonewall the supreme court of last resort, Key Biscayne, with my claim to gutlessly (i.e., physically unreally) surrounding the citadel with a mote in the beam of the Don, my brother's eye, a doubt and redoubt in the possibility of man's redemption.
    • 2011, Yoram Lubling, The Person Vanishes: John Dewey's Philosophy of Experience and the Self, Peter Lang Pub Incorporated (ISBN 9781433106088)
      [The] basic characterization of geography of which we are part of, is an implication of postmodemism that cannot be accepted by anyone who prefers the press of ordinary life to the narrow academic games of doubt and redoubt.

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