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Webster 1913 Edition

Retract

Re-tract′

(rē̍-trākt′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Retracted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Retracting
.]
[F.
rétracter
, L.
retractare
,
retractatum
, to handle again, reconsider, retract, fr.
retrahere
,
retractum
, to draw back. See
Retreat
.]
1.
To draw back; to draw up or shorten;
as, the cat can
retract
its claws; to
retract
a muscle.
2.
To withdraw; to recall; to disavow; to recant; to take back;
as, to
retract
an accusation or an assertion
.
I would as freely have
retracted
this charge of idolatry as I ever made it.
Bp. Stillingfleet.
3.
To take back,, as a grant or favor previously bestowed; to revoke.
[Obs.]
Woodward.
Syn. – To recall; withdraw; rescind; revoke; unsay; disavow; recant; abjure; disown.

Re-tract′

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To draw back; to draw up;
as, muscles
retract
after amputation
.
2.
To take back what has been said; to withdraw a concession or a declaration.
She will, and she will not; she grants, denies,
Consents,
retracts
, advances, and then files.
Granville.

Re-tract′

,
Noun.
(Far.)
The pricking of a horse’s foot in nailing on a shoe.

Webster 1828 Edition

Retract

RETRACT'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. retractus, retraho; re and traho, to draw.]
1.
To recall, as a declaration, words or saying; to disavow; to recant; as, to retract an accusation, charge or assertion.
I would as freely have retracted the charge of idolatry, as I ever made it.
2.
To take back; to rescind. [Little used.]
3.
To draw back, as claws.

RETRACT'

,
Verb.
T.
To take back; to unsay; to withdraw concession or declaration.
She will, and she will not; she grants, denies, consents, retracts, advances, and then flies.

RETRACT'

,
Noun.
Among horsemen, the prick of a horse's foot in nailing a shoe.

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