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Webster 1913 Edition

Retrench

Re-trench′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Retrenched
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Retrenching
.]
[OF.
retrenchier
, F.
retrancher
; pref.
re-
re- + OF.
trenchier
, F.
trancher
, to cut. See
Trench
.]
1.
To cut off; to pare away.
Thy exuberant parts
retrench
.
Denham.
2.
To lessen; to abridge; to curtail;
as, to
retrench
superfluities or expenses
.
But this thy glory shall be soon
retrenched
.
Milton.
3.
To confine; to limit; to restrict.
Addison.
These figures, ought they then to receive a
retrenched
interpretation?
I. Taylor.
4.
(Fort.)
To furnish with a retrenchment;
as, to
retrench
bastions
.
Syn. – To lesen; diminish; curtail; abridge.

Re-trench′

,
Verb.
I.
To cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down living expenses;
as, it is more reputable to
retrench
than to live embarrassed
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Retrench

RETRENCH'

, v.t.
1.
To cut off; to pare away.
And thy exuberant parts retrench.
2.
To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench superfluities or expenses.
3.
To confine; to limit. [Not proper.]

RETRENCH'

,
Verb.
I.
To live at less expense. It is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.

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