Middle English Dictionary Entry
retrēten v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | retrēten v.(1) Also retrete, retrait & (error) retretoete. |
| Etymology | From OF retrait, retret (p.ppl. of retraire, retrere) & retraitier, retraiter, with re- pref. in the sense of 'back from', 'away'. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To retreat from battle, withdraw, fall back; (b) of body heat: to withdraw from the extremities of the body; (c) to cause (a wing of an army) to fall back; (d) ppl. retreted, of the stomach: drawn in.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1291 : Oonly the clarioun the knyghtis signe is; Fight & retrayt and chace or feer or neer, The clarion his voys declareth cleer.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1840 : If foomen fle, thei and horsmen the chase Go swift vppon, and ellis thei retrete And thorgh the frount indresse hem to their place.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2085 : If men be myghtieste On the lift hond, the right is to retrete And fal on her right horn with wightieste Footmen & hors.
b
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)242/16 : Whyle that a man slepyth, al the wittis restyth; and than retretith the natural hette that spredyth abrode throgh al the body and to the v wittis.
c
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2112 : And this doyng, retretoete [read: retrete] thi lifte horn Fer, al abak, and raunge it like a spere.
d
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)222/16 : Alevyn tokenys bene whych tokenyth Streynth and corageous..the iiije Is a large belly and to hym retreted.
2.
To cancel (sth.), revoke; retract (sth.).
Associated quotations
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)156 : If any oþer dede or suffryng þan preier schulde haue place here forto retrete, reuoke ordo awey in god þe seid jugement vpon vs into losse of blis..þilk dede myȝt be a deserving þat þe now bifore seid jugement schulde be reuokid.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)4/3 : Enye erroure or heresie..if..it happe me to write..y schal be redi it to leeue, forsake and retrete mekely and deuoutli, at þe assignementis of myn ordinaries.