Part 294

2. To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.

As when his virtues, shining upon others, Heat them and they retort that heat again To the first giver.

Shak.

3. To return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity.

And with retorted scorn his back he turned.

Milton.

Re*tort", v. i. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. Pope.

Re*tort", n. [See Retort, v. t.] 1. The return of, or reply to, an argument, charge, censure, incivility, taunt, or witticism; a quick and witty or severe response.

This is called the retort courteous.

Shak.

2. [F. retorte (cf. Sp. retorta), fr. L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere. So named from its bent shape. See Retort, v. t.] (Chem. & the Arts) A vessel in which substances are subjected to distillation or decomposition by heat. It is made of different forms and materials for different uses, as a bulb of glass with a curved beak to enter a receiver for general chemical operations, or a cylinder or semicylinder of cast iron for the manufacture of gas in gas works.

Tubulated retort (Chem.), a retort having a tubulure for the introduction or removal of the substances which are to be acted upon.

Syn. -- Repartee; answer. -- Retort, Repartee. A retort is a short and pointed reply, turning back on an assailant the arguments, censure, or derision he had thrown out. A repartee is usually a good-natured return to some witty or sportive remark.

Re*tort"er (?), n. One who retorts.

Re*tor"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. rétorsion. See Retort, v. t.] 1. Act of retorting or throwing back; reflection or turning back. [Written also retorsion.]

It was, however, necessary to possess some single term expressive of this intellectual retortion.

Sir W. Hamilton.

2. (Law) Retaliation. Wharton.

Re*tort"ive (?), a. Containing retort.

Re*toss" (?), v. t. To toss back or again.

Re*touch" (?), v. t. [Pref. re- + touch: cf. F. retoucher.] 1. To touch again, or rework, in order to improve; to revise; as, to retouch a picture or an essay.

2. (Photog.) To correct or change, as a negative, by handwork.

Re*touch", n. (Fine Arts) A partial reworking,as of a painting, a sculptor's clay model, or the like.

Re*touch"er (?), n. One who retouches.

Re*trace" (?), v. t. [Pref. re- + trace: cf. F. retracer. Cf. Retract.] 1. To trace back, as a line.

Then if the line of Turnus you retrace, He springs from Inachus of Argive race.

Driden.

2. To go back, in or over (a previous course); to go over again in a reverse direction; as, to retrace one's steps; to retrace one's proceedings.