Chapter C: A. Bristed (1)

Ret`i*rade" (?), n. [F.; cf. Sp. retirada retreat. See Retire.] (Fort.) A kind of retrenchment, as in the body of a bastion, which may be disputed inch by inch after the defenses are dismantled. It usually consists of two faces which make a reëntering angle.

Re*tire" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Retiring.] [F. retirer; pref. re- re- + tirer to draw. See Tirade.] 1. To withdraw; to take away; -- sometimes used reflexively.

He . . . retired himself, his wife, and children into a forest.

Sir P. Sidney.

As when the sun is present all the year, And never doth retire his
golden ray.

Sir J. Davies.

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2. To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay; as, to retire bonds; to retire a note.

3. To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list; as, to retire a military or naval officer.

Re*tire" (?), v. i. 1. To go back or return; to draw back or away; to keep aloof; to withdraw or retreat, as from observation; to go into privacy; as, to retire to his home; to retire from the world, or from notice.

To Una back he cast him to retire.

Spenser.

The mind contracts herself, and shrinketh in, And to herself she
gladly doth retire.

Sir J. Davies.

2. To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle.

Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye
from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

2 Sam. xi. 15.

3. To withdraw from a public station, or from business; as, having made a large fortune, he retired.

And from Britannia's public posts retire.

Addison.

4. To recede; to fall or bend back; as, the shore of the sea retires in bays and gulfs.

5. To go to bed; as, he usually retires early.

Syn. -- To withdraw; leave; depart; secede; recede; retreat; retrocede.

Re*tire", n. 1. The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires. [Obs.]

The battle and the retire of the English succors.

Bacon.

[Eve] discover'd soon the place of her retire.

Milton.

2. (Mil.) A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.

Re*tired" (?), a. 1. Private; secluded; quiet; as, a retired life; a person of retired habits.

A retired part of the peninsula.

Hawthorne.

2. Withdrawn from active duty or business; as, a retired officer; a retired physician.

Retired flank (Fort.), a flank bent inward toward the rear of the work. -- Retired list (Mil. & Naval), a list of officers, who, by reason of advanced age or other disability, are relieved from active service, but still receive a specified amount of pay from the government.

-- Re*tired"ly, adv. -- Re*tired"ness, n.

Re*tire"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. retirement.] 1. The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; withdrawal; seclusion; as, the retirement of an officer.

O, blest Retirement, friend of life's decline.

Goldsmith.

Retirement, rural quiet, friendship, books.

Thomson.

2. A place of seclusion or privacy; a place to which one withdraws or retreats; a private abode. [Archaic]

This coast full of princely retirements for the sumptousness of
their buildings and nobleness of the plantations.

Evelyn.

Caprea had been the retirement of Augustus.

Addison.

Syn. -- Solitude; withdrawment; departure; retreat; seclusion; privacy. See Solitude.

Re*tir"er (?), n. One who retires.

Re*tir"ing, a. 1. Reserved; shy; not forward or obtrusive; as, retiring modesty; retiring manners.

2. Of or pertaining to retirement; causing retirement; suited to, or belonging to, retirement.

Retiring board (Mil.), a board of officers who consider and report upon the alleged incapacity of an officer for active service. -- Retiring pension, a pension granted to a public officer on his retirement from office or service.

Ret"i*stene (?), n. (Chem.) A white crystalline hydrocarbon produced indirectly from retene.

||Ret`i*te"læ (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. rete a net + tela a web.] (Zoöl.) A ||group of spiders which spin irregular webs; -- called also ||Retitelariæ.

Re*told" (?), imp. & p. p. of Retell.

Re*tor"sion (?), n. Same as Retortion.

Re*tort" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retorting.] [L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere; pref. re- re- + torquere to turn twist. See Torsion, and cf. Retort, n., 2.] 1. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line.

With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated.

Southey.

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.

3. To trace over again, or renew the outline of, as a drawing; to draw again.

Re*tract" (r*trkt"), v. 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", v. 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", n. (Far.) The pricking of a horse's foot in nailing on a shoe.

Re*tract"a*ble (-*b'l), a. [Cf. F. rétractable.] Capable of being retracted; retractile.

Re*tract"ate (?), v. t. [L. retractatus, p. p. of retractare. See Retract.] To retract; to recant. [Obs.]

Re`trac*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. rétractation, L. retractatio a revision, reconsideration. ] The act of retracting what has been said; recantation.

Re*tract"i*ble (?), a. Retractable.

Re*tract"ile (?), a. [Cf. F. - rétractile.] (Physiol.) Capable of retraction; capable of being drawn back or up; as, the claws of a cat are retractile.

Re*trac"tion (r*trk"shn), n. [Cf. F. rétraction, L. retractio a drawing back, hesitation.] 1. The act of retracting, or drawing back; the state of being retracted; as, the retraction of a cat's claws.

2. The act of withdrawing something advanced, stated, claimed, or done; declaration of change of opinion; recantation.

Other men's insatiable desire of revenge hath wholly beguiled both
church and state of the benefit of all my either retractions or
concessions.

Eikon Basilike.

3. (Physiol.) (a) The act of retracting or shortening; as, the retraction of a severed muscle; the retraction of a sinew. (b) The state or condition of a part when drawn back, or towards the center of the body.

Re*tract"ive (?), a. Serving to retract; of the nature of a retraction. -- Re*tract"ive*ly, adv.

Re*tract"ive, n. That which retracts, or withdraws.

Re*tract"or (-r), n. One who, or that which, retracts. Specifically: (a) In breech-loading firearms, a device for withdrawing a cartridge shell from the barrel. (b) (Surg.) An instrument for holding apart the edges of a wound during amputation. (c) (Surg.) A bandage to protect the soft parts from injury by the saw during amputation. (d) (Anat. & Zoöl.) A muscle serving to draw in any organ or part. See Illust. under Phylactolæmata.

Re*traict" (r*trt"), n. Retreat. [Obs.] Bacon.

Re*trait" (r*trt"), n. [It. ritratto, fr. ritrarre to draw back, draw, fr. L. retrahere. See Retract.] A portrait; a likeness. [Obs.]

Whose fair retrait I in my shield do bear.

Spenser.

Re`trans*form" (?), v. t. To transform anew or back. -- Re`trans*for*ma"tion (#), n.

Re`trans*late" (?), v. t. To translate anew; especially, to translate back into the original language.

||Re*trax"it (?), n. [L., (he) has withdrawn. See Retract.] (O. Eng. ||Law) The withdrawing, or open renunciation, of a suit in court by the ||plaintiff, by which he forever lost his right of action. Blackstone.

Re*tread" (?), v. t. & i. To tread again.

Re*treat" (?), n. [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&?;truns any lackey.

Shak.

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" (?), v. 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.

Re*treat"ful (?), a. Furnishing or serving as a retreat. [R.] "Our retreatful flood." Chapman.

Re*treat"ment (?), n. The act of retreating; specifically, the Hegira. [R.] D'Urfey.

Re*trench" (?), v. 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", v. i. To cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down living expenses; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.

Re*trench"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. retrenchment.] 1. The act or process of retrenching; as, the retrenchment of words in a writing.

The retrenchment of my expenses will convince you that &?; mean to
replace your fortune as far as I can.

Walpole.

2. (Fort.) A work constructed within another, to prolong the defense of the position when the enemy has gained possession of the outer work; or to protect the defenders till they can retreat or obtain terms for a capitulation.

Syn. -- Lessening; curtailment; diminution; reduction; abridgment.

Re*tri"al (?), n. A secdond trial, experiment, or test; a second judicial trial, as of an accused person.

Re*trib"ute (?), v. t. [L. retributus, p. p. ofretribuere to retribute; pref re- + tribuere to bestow, assign, pay. See Tribute.] To pay back; to give in return, as payment, reward, or punishment; to requite; as, to retribute one for his kindness; to retribute just punishment to a criminal. [Obs. or R.] Locke.

Re*trib"u*ter (?), n. One who makes retribution.

Ret`ri*bu"tion (?), n. [L. retributio: cf. F. rétribution.] 1. The act of retributing; repayment.

In good offices and due retributions, we may not be pinching and
niggardly.

Bp. Hall.

2. That which is given in repayment or compensation; return suitable to the merits or deserts of, as an action; commonly, condign punishment for evil or wrong.

All who have their reward on earth, . . . Naught seeking but the
praise of men, here find Fit retribution, empty as their deeds.

Milton.

3. Specifically, reward and punishment, as distributed at the general judgment.

It is a strong argument for a state of retribution hereafter, that
in this world virtuous persons are very often unfortunate, and
vicious persons prosperous.

Addison.

Syn. -- Repayment; requital; recompense; payment; retaliation.

{ Re*trib"u*tive (?), Re*trib"u*to*ry }, a. [Cf. LL. retributorius worthy of retribution.] Of or pertaining to retribution; of the nature of retribution; involving retribution or repayment; as, retributive justice; retributory comforts.

Re*triev"a*ble (?), a. [From Retrieve.] That may be retrieved or recovered; admitting of retrieval. -- Re*triev"a*ble*ness, n. -- Re*triev"a*bly, adv.

Re*triev"al (?), n. The act retrieving.

Re*trieve" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retrieved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Retrieving.] [OE. retreven, OF. retrover to find again, recover (il retroevee finds again), F. retrouver; pref. re- re- + OF. trover to find, F. trouver. See Trover.] 1. To find again; to recover; to regain; to restore from loss or injury; as, to retrieve one's character; to retrieve independence.

With late repentance now they would retrieve The bodies they
forsook, and wish to live.

Dryden

2. To recall; to bring back.

To retrieve them from their cold, trivial conceits.

Berkeley.

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3. To remedy the evil consequence of, to repair, as a loss or damadge.

Accept my sorrow, and retrieve my fall.

Prior.

There is much to be done . . . and much to be retrieved.

Burke.

Syn. -- To recover; regain; recruit; repair; restore.

Re*trieve" (?), v. i. (Sport.) To discover and bring in game that has been killed or wounded; as, a dog naturally inclined to retrieve. Walsh.

Re*trieve", n. 1. A seeking again; a discovery. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

2. The recovery of game once sprung; -- an old sporting term. [Obs.] Nares.

Re*trieve"ment (?), n. Retrieval.

Re*triev"er (?), n. 1. One who retrieves.

2. (Zoöl.) A dor, or a breed of dogs, chiefly employed to retrieve, or to find and recover game birds that have been killed or wounded.

Re*trim" (?), v. t. To trim again.

Ret"ri*ment (?), n. [L. retrimentum.] Refuse; dregs. [R.]

Retro-. [L. retro, adv., backward, back. Cf. Re-.] A prefix or combining form signifying backward, back; as, retroact, to act backward; retrospect, a looking back.

Re`tro*act" (?), v. i. [Pref. retro- + act.] To act backward, or in return; to act in opposition; to be retrospective.

Re`tro*ac"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. rétroaction.] 1. Action returned, or action backward.

2. Operation on something past or preceding.

Re`tro*act"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. rétroactif.] Fitted or designed to retroact; operating by returned action; affecting what is past; retrospective. Beddoes.

Retroactive law or statute (Law), one which operates to make criminal or punishable, or in any way expressly to affect, acts done prior to the passing of the law.

Re`tro*act"ive*ly, adv. In a retroactive manner.

Re"tro*cede (?), v. t. [Pref. retro- + cede: cf. F. rétrocéder.] To cede or grant back; as, to retrocede a territory to a former proprietor.

Re"tro*cede, v. i. [L. retrocedere; retro backward, back + cedere to go. See Cede.] To go back.

Re`tro*ced"ent (?), a. [L. retrocedens, p. pr.] Disposed or likely to retrocede; -- said of diseases which go from one part of the body to another, as the gout.

Re`tro*ces"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. rétrocession. See Retrocede.] 1. The act of retroceding.

2. The state of being retroceded, or granted back.

3. (Med.) Metastasis of an eruption or a tumor from the surface to the interior of the body.

Re"tro*choir (?), n. [Pref. retro- + choir.] (Eccl. Arch.) Any extension of a church behind the high altar, as a chapel; also, in an apsidal church, all the space beyond the line of the back or eastern face of the altar.

Re`tro*cop"u*lant (?), a. [See Retrocopulation.] Copulating backward, or from behind.

Re`tro*cop`u*la"tion (?), n. [Pref. retro- + copulation.] Copulation from behind. Sir T. Browne.

Re`tro*duc"tion (?), n. [L. retroducere, retroductum, to lead or bring back; retro backward + ducere to lead.] A leading or bringing back.

{ Re"tro*flex (?), Re"tro*flexed (?), } a. [Pref. retro- + L. flectere, flexum, to bend, to turn.] Reflexed; bent or turned abruptly backward.

Re`tro*flex"ion (?), n. The act of reflexing; the state of being retroflexed. Cf. Retroversion.

{ Re"tro*fract (?), Re"tro*fract`ed, } a. [Pref. retro- + L. fractus, p. p. of frangere to break.] (Bot.) Refracted; as, a retrofract stem.

Re`tro*gen"er*a*tive (?), a. [Pref. retro- + generative.] Begetting young by retrocopulation.

Re`tro*gra*da"tion (?), n. [F. rétrogradation or L. retrogradatio. See Retrograde.] 1. The act of retrograding, or moving backward.

2. The state of being retrograde; decline.

Re"tro*grade (?), a. [L. retrogradus, from retrogradi, retrogressus, to retrograde; retro back + gradi to step: cf. F. rétrograde. See Grade.] 1. (Astron.) Apparently moving backward, and contrary to the succession of the signs, that is, from east to west, as a planet. Hutton.

And if he be in the west side in that condition, then is he
retrograde.

Chaucer.

2. Tending or moving backward; having a backward course; contrary; as, a retrograde motion; -- opposed to progressive. "Progressive and not retrograde." Bacon.

It is most retrograde to our desire.

Shak.

3. Declining from a better to a worse state; as, a retrograde people; retrograde ideas, morals, etc. Bacon.

Re"tro*grade, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Retrograded (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Retrograding.] [L. retrogradare, retrogradi: cf. F. rétrograder.] 1. To go in a retrograde direction; to move, or appear to move, backward, as a planet.

2. Hence, to decline from a better to a worse condition, as in morals or intelligence.

Re"tro*gra`ding*ly (?), adv. By retrograding; so as to retrograde.

Re"tro*gress (?), n. [Cf. L. retrogressus.] Retrogression. [R.] H. Spenser.

Re`tro*gres"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. rétrogression. See Retrograde, and cf. Digression.] 1. The act of retrograding, or going backward; retrogradation.

2. (Biol.) Backward development; a passing from a higher to a lower state of organization or structure, as when an animal, approaching maturity, becomes less highly organized than would be expected from its earlier stages or known relationship. Called also retrograde development, and regressive metamorphism.

Re`tro*gres"sive, a. [Cf. F. rétrogressif.] 1. Tending to retrograde; going or moving backward; declining from a better to a worse state.

2. (Biol.) Passing from a higher to a lower condition; declining from a more perfect state of organization; regressive.

Re`tro*gres"sive*ly, adv. In a retrogressive manner.

Re`tro*min"gen*cy (?), n. The quality or state of being retromingent. Sir T. Browne.

Re`tro*min"gent (?), a. [Pref. retro- + L. mingens, p. pr. of mingere to urinate.] Organized so as to discharge the urine backward. -- n. (Zoöl.) An animal that discharges its urine backward.

Re`tro*pul"sive (?), a. [Pref. retro- + L. pellere, pulsum, to impel.] Driving back; repelling.

Re*trorse" (?), a. [L. retrorsus, retroversus; retro back + vertere, versum, to turn. Cf. Retrovert.] Bent backward or downward. -- Re*trorse"ly, adv.

Re"tro*spect (?), v. i. [L. retrospicere; retro back + specere, spectum, to look. See Spy, and cf. Expect.] To look backward; hence, to affect or concern what is past.

It may be useful to retrospect to an early period.

A. Hamilton.

Re"tro*spect, n. A looking back on things past; view or contemplation of the past. Cowper.

We may introduce a song without retrospect to the old comedy.

Landor.

Re`tro*spec"tion (?), n. The act, or the faculty, of looking back on things past.

Re`tro*spec"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. rétrospectif.] 1. Looking backward; contemplating things past; -- opposed to prospective; as, a retrospective view.

The sage, with retrospective eye.

Pope.

2. Having reference to what is past; affecting things past; retroactive; as, a retrospective law.

Inflicting death by a retrospective enactment.

Macaulay.

Re`tro*spec"tive*ly, adv. By way of retrospect.

||Re*trous`sé" (?), a. [F., p.p. of retrousser to turn up.] Turned up; ||-- said of a pug nose. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Re`tro*vac`ci*na"tion (?), n. (Med.) The inoculation of a cow with human vaccine virus.

Re`tro*ver"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. rétroversion. See Retrovert.] A turning or bending backward; also, the state of being turned or bent backward; displacement backwards; as, retroversion of the uterus.

In retroversion the bending is gradual or curved; in retroflexion it is abrupt or angular.

Re"tro*vert (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retroverted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retroverting.] [Pref. retro- + L. vertere, versum, to turn. Cf. Retrorse.] To turn back.

Re"tro*vert*ed, a. In a state of retroversion.

Re*trude" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retruded; p. pr. & vb. n. Retruding.] [L. retrudere; re- + trudere to thrust.] To thrust back. [R.] Dr. H. More.

Re*truse" (?), a. [L. retrusus concealed, p. p. of retrudere.] Abstruse. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Re*tru"sion (?), n. The act of retruding, or the state of being retruded.

In virtue of an endless remotion or retrusion of the constituent
cause.

Coleridge.

Re*try" (?), v. t. To try (esp. judicially) a second time; as, to retry a case; to retry an accused person.

Rette (?), v. t. See Aret. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ret"ter*y (?), n. A place or establishment where flax is retted. See Ret. Ure.

Ret"ting (?), n. 1. The act or process of preparing flax for use by soaking, maceration, and kindred processes; -- also called rotting. See Ret. Ure.

2. A place where flax is retted; a rettery. Ure.

Re*tund" (?), v. t. [L. retundere, retusum; pref. re- re- + tundere to beat.] To blunt; to turn, as an edge; figuratively, to cause to be obtuse or dull; as, to retund confidence. Ray. Cudworth.

Re-turn" (?), v. t. & i. To turn again.

Re*turn" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Returned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Returning.] [OE. returnen, retournen, F. retourner; pref. re- re- + tourner to turn. See Turn.] 1. To turn back; to go or come again to the same place or condition. "Return to your father's house." Chaucer.

On their embattled ranks the waves return.

Milton.

If they returned out of bondage, it must be into a state of
freedom.

Locke.

Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Gen. iii. 19.

2. To come back, or begin again, after an interval, regular or irregular; to appear again.

With the year Seasons return; but not me returns Day or the sweet
approach of even or morn.

Milton.

3. To speak in answer; to reply; to respond.

He said, and thus the queen of heaven returned.

Pope.

4. To revert; to pass back into possession.

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the
house of David.

1Kings xii. 26.

5. To go back in thought, narration, or argument. "But to return to my story." Fielding.

Re*turn", v. t. 1. To bring, carry, send, or turn, back; as, to return a borrowed book, or a hired horse.

Both fled attonce, ne ever back returned eye.

Spenser.

2. To repay; as, to return borrowed money.

3. To give in requital or recompense; to requite.

The Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head.

1 Kings ii. 44.

4. To give back in reply; as, to return an answer; to return thanks.

5. To retort; to throw back; as, to return the lie.

If you are a malicious reader, you return upon me, that I affect to
be thought more impartial than I am.

Dryden.

6. To report, or bring back and make known.

And all the people answered together, . . . and Moses returned the
words of the people unto the Lord.

Ex. xix. 8.

7. To render, as an account, usually an official account, to a superior; to report officially by a list or statement; as, to return a list of stores, of killed or wounded; to return the result of an election.

8. Hence, to elect according to the official report of the election officers. [Eng.]

9. To bring or send back to a tribunal, or to an office, with a certificate of what has been done; as, to return a writ.

10. To convey into official custody, or to a general depository.

Instead of a ship, he should levy money, and return the same to the
treasurer for his majesty's use.

Clarendon.

11. (Tennis) To bat (the ball) back over the net.

12. (Card Playing) To lead in response to the lead of one's partner; as, to return a trump; to return a diamond for a club.

To return a lead (Card Playing), to lead the same suit led by one's partner.

Syn. -- To restore; requite; repay; recompense; render; remit; report.

Re*turn" (?), n. 1. The act of returning (intransitive), or coming back to the same place or condition; as, the return of one long absent; the return of health; the return of the seasons, or of an anniversary.

At the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against
thee.

1 Kings xx. 22.

His personal return was most required and necessary.

Shak.

2. The act of returning (transitive), or sending back to the same place or condition; restitution; repayment; requital; retribution; as, the return of anything borrowed, as a book or money; a good return in tennis.

You made my liberty your late request: Is no return due from a
grateful breast?

Dryden.

3. That which is returned. Specifically: (a) A payment; a remittance; a requital.

I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this bond.

Shak.

(b) An answer; as, a return to one's question. (c) An account, or formal report, of an action performed, of a duty discharged, of facts or statistics, and the like; as, election returns; a return of the amount of goods produced or sold; especially, in the plural, a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information. (d) The profit on, or advantage received from, labor, or an investment, undertaking, adventure, etc.

The fruit from many days of recreation is very little; but from
these few hours we spend in prayer, the return is great.

Jer. Taylor.

4. (Arch.) The continuation in a different direction, most often at a right angle, of a building, face of a building, or any member, as a molding or mold; -- applied to the shorter in contradistinction to the longer; thus, a facade of sixty feet east and west has a return of twenty feet north and south.

5. (Law) (a) The rendering back or delivery of writ, precept, or execution, to the proper officer or court. (b) The certificate of an officer stating what he has done in execution of a writ, precept, etc., indorsed on the document. (c) The sending back of a commission with the certificate of the commissioners. (d) A day in bank. See Return day, below. Blackstone.

6. (Mil. & Naval) An official account, report, or statement, rendered to the commander or other superior officer; as, the return of men fit for duty; the return of the number of the sick; the return of provisions, etc.

7. pl. (Fort. & Mining) The turnings and windings of a trench or mine.

Return ball, a ball held by an elastic string so that it returns to the hand from which it is thrown, -- used as a plaything. -- Return bend, a pipe fitting for connecting the contiguous ends of two nearly parallel pipes lying alongside or one above another. -- Return day (Law), the day when the defendant is to appear in court, and the sheriff is to return the writ and his proceedings. -- Return flue, in a steam boiler, a flue which conducts flame or gases of combustion in a direction contrary to their previous movement in another flue. -- Return pipe (Steam Heating), a pipe by which water of condensation from a heater or radiator is conveyed back toward the boiler.

Re*turn"a*ble (?), a. 1. Capable of, or admitting of, being returned.

2. (Law) Legally required to be returned, delivered, given, or rendered; as, a writ or precept returnable at a certain day; a verdict returnable to the court.

Re*turn"er (?), n. One who returns.

Re*turn"less, a. Admitting no return. Chapman.

Re*tuse" (?), a. [L. retusus, p. p. : cf. F. rétus. See Retund.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Having the end rounded and slightly indented; as, a retuse leaf.

Reule (?), n.& v. Rule. [Obs.]

Reume (?), n. Realm. [Obs.]

Re*un"ion (?), n. [Pref. re- + union: cf. F. réunion.] 1. A second union; union formed anew after separation, secession, or discord; as, a reunion of parts or particles of matter; a reunion of parties or sects.

2. An assembling of persons who have been separated, as of a family, or the members of a disbanded regiment; an assembly so composed.

Re`u*nite" (?), v. t. & i. To unite again; to join after separation or variance. Shak.

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Re`u*nit"ed*ly (?), adv. In a reunited manner.

Re`u*ni"tion (?), n. A second uniting. [R.]

Re*urge" (?), v. t. To urge again.

Re*vac"ci*nate (?), v. t. To vaccinate a second time or again. -- Re*vac`ci*na"tion(#), n.

Rev`a*les"cence (?), n. The act of growing well; the state of being revalescent.

Would this prove that the patient's revalescence had been
independent of the medicines given him?

Coleridge.

Rev`a*les"cent (?), a. [L. revalescens, -entis, p. pr. of revalescere; pref. re- re- + valescere, v. incho. fr. valere to be well.] Growing well; recovering strength.

Re*val`u*a"tion (?), n. A second or new valuation.

Re*vamp" (?), v. t. To vamp again; hence, to patch up; to reconstruct.

Reve (?), v. t. To reave. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Reve, n. [See Reeve.] An officer, steward, or governor. [Usually written reeve.] [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Re*veal" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Revealed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Revealing.] [F. révéler, L. revelare, revelatum, to unveil, reveal; pref. re- re- + velare to veil; fr. velum a veil. See Veil.] 1. To make known (that which has been concealed or kept secret); to unveil; to disclose; to show.

Light was the wound, the prince's care unknown, She might not,
would not, yet reveal her own.

Waller.

2. Specifically, to communicate (that which could not be known or discovered without divine or supernatural instruction or agency).

Syn. -- To communicate; disclose; divulge; unveil; uncover; open; discover; impart; show. See Communicate. -- Reveal, Divulge. To reveal is literally to lift the veil, and thus make known what was previously concealed; to divulge is to scatter abroad among the people, or make publicly known. A mystery or hidden doctrine may be revealed; something long confined to the knowledge of a few is at length divulged. "Time, which reveals all things, is itself not to be discovered." Locke. "A tragic history of facts divulged." Wordsworth.

Re*veal", n. 1. A revealing; a disclosure. [Obs.]

2. (Arch.) The side of an opening for a window, doorway, or the like, between the door frame or window frame and the outer surface of the wall; or, where the opening is not filled with a door, etc., the whole thickness of the wall; the jamb. [Written also revel.]

Re*veal`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being revealable; revealableness.

Re*veal"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being revealed. -- Re*veal"a*ble*ness, n.

Re*veal"er (?), n. One who, or that which, reveals.

Re*veal"ment (?), n. Act of revealing. [R.]

Re*veg"e*tate (?), v. i. To vegetate anew.

Re*veil"le (?), n. [F. réveil, fr. réveiller to awake; pref. re- re- + pref. es- (L. ex) + veiller to awake, watch, L. vigilare to watch. The English form was prob. taken by mistake from the French imper. réveillez,2d pers. pl. See Vigil.] (Mil.) The beat of drum, or bugle blast, about break of day, to give notice that it is time for the soldiers to rise, and for the sentinels to forbear challenging. "Sound a reveille." Dryden.

For at dawning to assail ye Here no bugles sound reveille.

Sir W. Scott.

Rev"el (?), n. (Arch.) See Reveal. [R.]

Rev"el, n. [OF. revel rebellion, disorder, feast, sport. See Revel, v. i.] A feast with loose and noisy jollity; riotous festivity or merrymaking; a carousal.

This day in mirth and revel to dispend.

Chaucer.

Some men ruin . . . their bodies by incessant revels.

Rambler.

Master of the revels, Revel master. Same as Lord of misrule, under Lord.

Rev"el, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Reveled (?) or Revelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Reveling or Revelling.] [OF. reveler to revolt, rebel, make merry, fr. L. rebellare. See Rebel.] 1. To feast in a riotous manner; to carouse; to act the bacchanalian; to make merry. Shak.

2. To move playfully; to indulge without restraint. "Where joy most revels." Shak.

Re*vel" (?), v. t. [L. revellere; re- + vellere to pluck, pull.] To draw back; to retract. [Obs.] Harvey.

Rev"e*late (?), v. t. [L. revelatus, p. p. of revelare to reveal.] To reveal. [Obs.] Frith. Barnes.

Rev`e*la"tion (?), n. [F. révélation, L. revelatio. See Reveal.] 1. The act of revealing, disclosing, or discovering to others what was before unknown to them.

2. That which is revealed.

3. (Theol.) (a) The act of revealing divine truth. (b) That which is revealed by God to man; esp., the Bible.

By revelation he made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote afore
in few words.

Eph. iii. 3.

4. Specifically, the last book of the sacred canon, containing the prophecies of St. John; the Apocalypse.

Rev"e*la`tor (?), n. [L.] One who makes a revelation; a revealer. [R.]

Rev"el*er (?), n. [Written also reveller.] One who revels. "Moonshine revelers." Shak.

Re*vel"lent (?), a. [L. revellens, p. pr. of revellere. See Revel, v. t.] Causing revulsion; revulsive. -- n. (Med.) A revulsive medicine.

Rev"el*ment (?), n. The act of reveling.

Rev"el*ous (?), a. [OF. reveleus.] Fond of festivity; given to merrymaking or reveling. [Obs.]

Companionable and revelous was she.

Chaucer.

Rev"el-rout` (?), n. [See Rout.] 1. Tumultuous festivity; revelry. [Obs.] Rowe.

2. A rabble; a riotous assembly; a mob. [Obs.]

Rev"el*ry (?), n. [See Revel, v. i. & n.] The act of engaging in a revel; noisy festivity; reveling.

And pomp and feast and revelry.

Milton.

Re*ven"di*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Revendicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Revendicating.][Cf. F. revendiquer. See Revenge.] To reclaim; to demand the restoration of. [R.] Vattel (Trans.).

Re*ven`di*ca"tion (?), n. [F. revendication.] The act of revendicating. [R.] Vattel (Trans.)

Re*venge" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Revenged (?), p. pr. & vb. n. Revenging (&?;).] [OF. revengier, F. revancher; pref. re- re- + OF. vengier to avenge, revenge, F. venger, L. vindicare. See Vindicate, Vengerance, and cf. Revindicate.] 1. To inflict harm in return for, as an injury, insult, etc.; to exact satisfaction for, under a sense of injury; to avenge; -- followed either by the wrong received, or by the person or thing wronged, as the object, or by the reciprocal pronoun as direct object, and a preposition before the wrong done or the wrongdoer.

To revenge the death of our fathers.

Ld. Berners.

The gods are just, and will revenge our cause.

Dryden.

Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourselves alone on
Cassius.

Shak.

2. To inflict injury for, in a spiteful, wrong, or malignant spirit; to wreak vengeance for maliciously.

Syn. -- To avenge; vindicate. See Avenge.

Re*venge", v. i. To take vengeance; -- with upon. [Obs.] "A bird that will revenge upon you all." Shak.

Re*venge", n. 1. The act of revenging; vengeance; retaliation; a returning of evil for evil.

Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is even with his enemy; but in
passing it over he is superior.

Bacon.

2. The disposition to revenge; a malignant wishing of evil to one who has done us an injury.

Revenge now goes To lay a complot to betray thy foes.

Shak.

The indulgence of revenge tends to make men more savage and cruel.

Kames.

Re*venge"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being revenged; as, revengeable wrong. Warner.

Re*venge"ance (?), n. Vengeance; revenge. [Obs.]

Re*venge"ful (?), a. Full of, or prone to, revenge; vindictive; malicious; revenging; wreaking revenge.

If thy revengeful heart can not forgive.

Shak.

May my hands . . . Never brandish more revengeful steel.

Shak.

Syn. -- Vindictive; vengeful; resentful; malicious.

-- Re*venge"ful*ly, adv. -- Re*venge"ful*ness, n.

Re*venge"less, a. Unrevenged. [Obs.] Marston.

Re*venge"ment (?), n. Revenge. [Obs.]

He 'll breed revengement and a scourge for me.

Shak.

Re*ven"ger (?), n. One who revenges. Shak.

Re*ven"ging (?), a. Executing revenge; revengeful. -- Re*ven"ging*ly, adv. Shak.

Rev"e*nue (?), n. [F. revenu, OF. revenue, fr. revenir to return, L. revenire; pref. re- re- + venire to come. See Come.] 1. That which returns, or comes back, from an investment; the annual rents, profits, interest, or issues of any species of property, real or personal; income.

Do not anticipate your revenues and live upon air till you know
what you are worth.

Gray.

2. Hence, return; reward; as, a revenue of praise.

3. The annual yield of taxes, excise, customs, duties, rents, etc., which a nation, state, or municipality collects and receives into the treasury for public use.

Revenue cutter, an armed government vessel employed to enforce revenue laws, prevent smuggling, etc.

Re*verb" (?), v. t. To echo. [Obs.] Shak.

Re*ver"ber*ant (?), a. [L. reverberans, p. pr. : cf. F. réverbérant. See Reverberate.] Having the quality of reverberation; reverberating.

Re*ver"ber*ate (?), a. [L. reverberatus, p. p. of reverberare to strike back, repel; pref. re- re- + verberare to lash, whip, beat, fr. verber a lash, whip, rod.] 1. Reverberant. [Obs.] "The reverberate hills." Shak.

2. Driven back, as sound; reflected. [Obs.] Drayton.

Re*ver"ber*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reverberated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Reverberating.] 1. To return or send back; to repel or drive back; to echo, as sound; to reflect, as light, as light or heat.

Who, like an arch, reverberates The voice again.

Shak.

2. To send or force back; to repel from side to side; as, flame is reverberated in a furnace.

3. Hence, to fuse by reverberated heat. [Obs.] "Reverberated into glass." Sir T. Browne.

Re*ver"ber*ate, v. i. 1. To resound; to echo.

2. To be driven back; to be reflected or repelled, as rays of light; to be echoed, as sound.

Re*ver`ber*a"tion (?), n. [CF. F. réverbération.] The act of reverberating; especially, the act of reflecting light or heat, or reëchoing sound; as, the reverberation of rays from a mirror; the reverberation of rays from a mirror; the reverberation of voices; the reverberation of heat or flame in a furnace.

Re*ver"ber*a*tive (?), a. Of the nature of reverberation; tending to reverberate; reflective.

This reverberative influence is that which we have intended above,
as the influence of the mass upon its centers.

I. Taylor.

Re*ver"ber*a`tor (?), n. One who, or that which, produces reverberation.

Re*ver"ber*a*to*ry (?), a. Producing reverberation; acting by reverberation; reverberative.

Reverberatory furnace. See the Note under Furnace.

Re*ver"ber*a*to*ry, n. A reverberatory furnace.

Re*ver"dure (?), v. t. To cover again with verdure. Ld. Berners.

Re*vere" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Revered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Revering.] [L. revereri; pref. re- re- + vereri to fear, perh. akin to E. wary: cf. F. révérer.] To regard with reverence, or profound respect and affection, mingled with awe or fear; to venerate; to reverence; to honor in estimation.

Marcus Aurelius, whom he rather revered as his father than treated
as his partner in the empire.

Addison.

Syn. -- To venerate; adore; reverence.

Rev"er*ence (?), n. [F. révérence, L. reverentia. See Reverent.] 1. Profound respect and esteem mingled with fear and affection, as for a holy being or place; the disposition to revere; veneration.

If thou be poor, farewell thy reverence.

Chaucer.

Reverence, which is the synthesis of love and fear.

Coleridge.

When discords, and quarrels, and factions, are carried openly and
audaciously, it is a sign the reverence of government islost.

Bacon.

Formerly, as in Chaucer, reverence denoted "respect" "honor", without awe or fear.

2. The act of revering; a token of respect or veneration; an obeisance.

Make twenty reverences upon receiving . . . about twopence.

Goldsmith.

And each of them doeth all his diligence To do unto the feast
reverence.

Chaucer.

3. That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence; reverend character; dignity; state.

I am forced to lay my reverence by.

Shak.

4. A person entitled to be revered; -- a title applied to priests or other ministers with the pronouns his or your; sometimes poetically to a father. Shak.

Save your reverence, Saving your reverence, an apologetical phrase for an unseemly expression made in the presence of a priest or clergyman. -- Sir reverence, a contracted form of Save your reverence.

Such a one as a man may not speak of, without he say. "Sir
reverence."

Shak.

-- To do reverence, to show reverence or honor; to perform an act of reverence.

Now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence.

Shak.

Syn. -- Awe; honor; veneration; adoration; dread. -- Awe, Reverence, Dread, Veneration. Reverence is a strong sentiment of respect and esteem, sometimes mingled slightly with fear; as, reverence for the divine law. Awe is a mixed feeling of sublimity and dread in view of something great or terrible, sublime or sacred; as, awe at the divine presence. It does not necessarily imply love. Dread is an anxious fear in view of an impending evil; as, dread of punishment. Veneration is reverence in its strongest manifestations. It is the highest emotion we can exercise toward human beings. Exalted and noble objects produce reverence; terrific and threatening objects awaken dread; a sense of the divine presence fills us with awe; a union of wisdom and virtue in one who is advanced in years inspires us with veneration.

Rev"er*ence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reverenced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Reverencing (?).] To regard or treat with reverence; to regard with respect and affection mingled with fear; to venerate.

Let . . . the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Eph. v. 33.

Those that I reverence those I fear, the wise.

Shak.

Rev"er*en*cer (?), n. One who regards with reverence. "Reverencers of crowned heads." Swift.

Rev"er*end (?), a. [F. révérend, L. reverendus, fr. revereri. See Revere.] Worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection; venerable.

A reverend sire among them came.

Milton.

They must give good example and reverend deportment in the face of
their children.

Jer. Taylor.

This word is commonly given as a title of respect to ecclesiastics. A clergyman is styled the reverend; a dean, the very reverend; a bishop, the right reverend; an archbishop, the most reverend.

Rev"er*end*ly, adv. Reverently. [Obs.] Foxe.

Rev"er*ent (?), a. [L. reverens, -entis, p. pr. of revereri. See Revere.] 1. Disposed to revere; impressed with reverence; submissive; humble; respectful; as, reverent disciples. "They . . . prostrate fell before him reverent." Milton.

2. Expressing reverence, veneration, devotion, or submission; as, reverent words; reverent behavior. Joye.

Rev`er*en"tial (?), a. [Cf. F. révérenciel. See Reverence.] Proceeding from, or expressing, reverence; having a reverent quality; reverent; as, reverential fear or awe. "A reverential esteem of things sacred." South.

Rev`er*en"tial*ly, adv. In a reverential manner.

Rev"er*ent*ly, adv. In a reverent manner; in respectful regard.

Re*ver"er (?), n. One who reveres.

{ Rev"er*ie (?), Rev"er*y (?), } n.; pl. Reveries (#). [F. réverie, fr. rêver to dream, rave, be light-headed. Cf. Rave.] 1. A loose or irregular train of thought occurring in musing or mediation; deep musing; daydream. "Rapt in nameless reveries." Tennyson.

When ideas float in our mind without any reflection or regard of
the understanding, it is that which the French call revery, our
language has scarce a name for it.

Locke.

2. An extravagant conceit of the fancy; a vision. [R.]

There are infinite reveries and numberless extravagancies pass
through both [wise and foolish minds].

Addison.

Re*ver"sal (?), a. [See Reverse.] Intended to reverse; implying reversal. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

Re*ver"sal, n. [From Reverse.] 1. The act of reversing; the causing to move or face in an opposite direction, or to stand or lie in an inverted position; as, the reversal of a rotating wheel; the reversal of objects by a convex lens.

2. A change or overthrowing; as, the reversal of a judgment, which amounts to an official declaration that it is false; the reversal of an attainder, or of an outlawry, by which the sentence is rendered void. Blackstone.

Re*verse" (?), a. [OE. revers, OF. revers, L. reversus, p. p. of revertere. See Revert.] 1. Turned backward; having a contrary or opposite direction; hence; opposite or contrary in kind; as, the reverse order or method. "A vice reverse unto this." Gower.

2. Turned upside down; greatly disturbed. [Obs.]

He found the sea diverse With many a windy storm reverse.

Gower.

3. (Bot. & Zoöl.) Reversed; as, a reverse shell.

Reverse bearing (Surv.), the bearing of a back station as observed from the station next in advance. - - Reverse curve (Railways), a curve like the letter S, formed of two curves bending in opposite directions. -- Reverse fire (Mil.), a fire in the rear. -- Reverse operation (Math.), an operation the steps of which are taken in a contrary order to that in which the same or similar steps are taken in another operation considered as direct; an operation in which that is sought which in another operation is given, and that given which in the other is sought; as, finding the length of a pendulum from its time of vibration is the reverse operation to finding the time of vibration from the length.

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Re*verse" (r*vrs"), n. [Cf. F. revers. See Reverse, a.] 1. That which appears or is presented when anything, as a lance, a line, a course of conduct, etc., is reverted or turned contrary to its natural direction.

He did so with the reverse of the lance.

Sir W. Scott.

2. That which is directly opposite or contrary to something else; a contrary; an opposite. Chaucer.

And then mistook reverse of wrong for right.

Pope.

To make everything the reverse of what they have seen, is quite as
easy as to destroy.

Burke.

3. The act of reversing; complete change; reversal; hence, total change in circumstances or character; especially, a change from better to worse; misfortune; a check or defeat; as, the enemy met with a reverse.

The strange reverse of fate you see; I pitied you, now you may pity
me.

Dryden.

By a reverse of fortune, Stephen becomes rich.

Lamb.

4. The back side; as, the reverse of a drum or trench; the reverse of a medal or coin, that is, the side opposite to the obverse. See Obverse.

5. A thrust in fencing made with a backward turn of the hand; a backhanded stroke. [Obs.] Shak.

6. (Surg.) A turn or fold made in bandaging, by which the direction of the bandage is changed.

Re*verse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reversed (-vrst");p. pr. & vb. n. Reversing.] [See Reverse, a., and cf. Revert.] 1. To turn back; to cause to face in a contrary direction; to cause to depart.

And that old dame said many an idle verse, Out of her daughter's
heart fond fancies to reverse.

Spenser.

2. To cause to return; to recall. [Obs.]

And to his fresh remembrance did reverse The ugly view of his
deformed crimes.

Spenser.

3. To change totally; to alter to the opposite.

Reverse the doom of death.

Shak.

She reversed the conduct of the celebrated vicar of Bray.

Sir W. Scott.

4. To turn upside down; to invert.

A pyramid reversed may stand upon his point if balanced by
admirable skill.

Sir W. Temple.

5. Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.

These can divide, and these reverse, the state.

Pope.

Custom . . . reverses even the distinctions of good and evil.

Rogers.

6. (Law) To overthrow by a contrary decision; to make void; to under or annual for error; as, to reverse a judgment, sentence, or decree.

Reverse arms (Mil.), a position of a soldier in which the piece passes between the right elbow and the body at an angle of 45°, and is held as in the illustration. -- To reverse an engine or a machine, to cause it to perform its revolutions or action in the opposite direction.

Syn. -- To overturn; overset; invert; overthrow; subvert; repeal; annul; revoke; undo.

Re*verse", v. i. 1. To return; to revert. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. To become or be reversed.

Re*versed" (?), a. 1. Turned side for side, or end for end; changed to the contrary; specifically (Bot. & Zoöl.), sinistrorse or sinistral; as, a reversed, or sinistral, spiral or shell.

2. (Law) Annulled and the contrary substituted; as, a reversed judgment or decree.

Reversed positive or negative (Photog.), a picture corresponding with the original in light and shade, but reversed as to right and left. Abney.

Re*vers"ed*ly (?), adv. In a reversed way.

Re*verse"less, a. Irreversible. [R.] A. Seward.

Re*verse"ly, adv. In a reverse manner; on the other hand; on the opposite. Bp. Pearson.

Re*vers"er (?), n. One who reverses.

Re*vers`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being reversible. Tyndall.

Re*vers"i*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. réversible revertible, reversionary.] 1. Capable of being reversed; as, a chair or seat having a reversible back; a reversible judgment or sentence.

2. Hence, having a pattern or finished surface on both sides, so that either may be used; -- said of fabrics.

Reversible lock, a lock that may be applied to a door opening in either direction, or hinged to either jamb. -- Reversible process. See under Process.

Re*vers"i*bly, adv. In a reversible manner.

Re*vers"ing, a. Serving to effect reversal, as of motion; capable of being reversed.

Reversing engine, a steam engine having a reversing gear by means of which it can be made to run in either direction at will. -- Reversing gear (Mach.), gear for reversing the direction of rotation at will.

Re*ver"sion (r*vr"shn), n. [F. réversion, L. reversio a turning back. See Revert.] 1. The act of returning, or coming back; return. [Obs.]

After his reversion home, [he] was spoiled, also, of all that he
brought with him.

Foxe.

2. That which reverts or returns; residue. [Obs.]

The small reversion of this great navy which came home might be
looked upon by religious eyes as relics.

Fuller.

3. (Law) The returning of an estate to the grantor or his heirs, by operation of law, after the grant has terminated; hence, the residue of an estate left in the proprietor or owner thereof, to take effect in possession, by operation of law, after the termination of a limited or less estate carved out of it and conveyed by him. Kent.

4. Hence, a right to future possession or enjoyment; succession.

For even reversions are all begged before.

Dryden.

5. (Annuities) A payment which is not to be received, or a benefit which does not begin, until the happening of some event, as the death of a living person. Brande & C.

6. (Biol.) A return towards some ancestral type or character; atavism.