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Webster 1913 Edition

Retreat

Re-treat′

,
Noun.
[F.
retraite
, fr.
retraire
to withdraw, L.
retrahere
; pref.
re-
re- +
trahere
to draw. See
Trace
, and cf.
Retract
,
Retrace
.]
1.
The act of retiring or withdrawing one’s self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable.
In a
retreat
he o[GREEK]truns any lackey.
Shakespeare
2.
The place to which anyone retires; a place or privacy or safety; a refuge; an asylum.
He built his son a house of pleasure, and spared no cost to make a delicious
retreat
.
L'Estrange.
That pleasing shade they sought, a soft
retreat

From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat.
Dryden.
3.
(Mil. & Naval.)
(a)
The retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy, or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position.
(b)
The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy for the purpose of avoiding an engagement or escaping after defeat.
(c)
A signal given in the army or navy, by the beat of a drum or the sounding of trumpet or bugle, at sunset (when the roll is called), or for retiring from action.
☞ A retreat is properly an orderly march, in which circumstance it differs from a flight.
4.
(Eccl.)
(a)
A special season of solitude and silence to engage in religious exercises.
(b)
A period of several days of withdrawal from society to a religious house for exclusive occupation in the duties of devotion;
as, to appoint or observe a
retreat
.
Syn. – Retirement; departure; withdrawment; seclusion; solitude; privacy; asylum; shelter; refuge.

Re-treat′

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Retreated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Retreating
.]
To make a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to withdraw;
as, the defeated army
retreated
from the field
.
The rapid currents drive
Towards the
retreating
sea their furious tide.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Retreat

RETRE'AT

,
Noun.
[L. retractus, retraho; re and traho.]
1.
The act of retiring; a withdrawing of one's self from any place.
But beauty's triumph is well tim'd retreat.
2.
Retirement; state of privacy or seclusion from noise, bustle or company.
Here in the calm still mirror of retreat.
3.
Place of retirement or privacy.
He built his son a house of pleasure - and spared no cost to make it a delicious retreat.
4.
Place of safety or security.
That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat from sudden April show'rs, a shelter from the heat.
5.
In military affairs, the retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position. A retreat is properly an orderly march, in which circumstance it differs from a flight.
6.
The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy; or the order and disposition of ships declining an engagement.
7.
The beat of the drum at the firing of the evening gun, to warn soldiers to forbear firing and the sentinels to challenge.

RETRE'AT

, v.i.
1.
To retire from any position or place.
2.
To withdraw to a private abode or to any secluded situation.
3.
To retire to a place of safety or security; as, to retreat into a den or into a fort.
4.
To move back to a place before occupied; to retire.
The rapid currents drive, towards the retreating sea, their furious tide.
5.
To retire from an enemy or from any advanced position.

Definition 2024

retreat

retreat

English

Noun

retreat ‎(plural retreats)

  1. The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
    • Shakespeare
      In a retreat he outruns any lackey.
  2. The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position.
  3. A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security.
    • 1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles , chapter IV
      In a large bedroom upstairs, the window of which was thickly curtained with a great woollen shawl lately discarded by the landlady, Mrs Rolliver, were gathered on this evening nearly a dozen persons, all seeking beatitude; all old inhabitants of the nearer end of Marlott, and frequenters of this retreat.
    • 1692, Roger L'Estrange, "Fable 100: An Old Man and a Lion", Fables of Aesop, page 115
      ... he built his son a house of pleasure, on purpose to keep him out of harm's way; and spared neither art nor cost to make it a delicious retreat.
    • Dryden
      That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat / From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat.
  4. (rare and obsolete, euphemistic) An peaceful, quiet place in which to urinate and defecate: an outhouse; a lavatory.
  5. A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude.
  6. A period of meditation, prayer or study.
  7. Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack.
  8. A signal for a military withdrawal.
  9. A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.
  10. A military ceremony to lower the flag.
  11. (chess) The move of a piece from a threatened position.

Translations

See also

  • religious retreat

Verb

retreat ‎(third-person singular simple present retreats, present participle retreating, simple past and past participle retreated)

  1. To withdraw military forces.

Translations

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret (to draw back), from Latin retrahere (retract).

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -iːt

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