Etymologically
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retorqueo

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [rɛˈtɔr.kʷe.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [reˈtɔr.kʷe.o][1]

Forms

retorqueō (present infinitive retorquēre, perfect active retorsī, supine retortum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin re- (“back”) + torqueō (“to twist”).[2][1] De Vaan traces torqueō to Proto-Italic *torkw-eie- (“to twist”) and Proto-Indo-European *torkʷ-eie- (“to twist”), a causative, and compares Hittite tar(k)u-zi (“to dance”) and Tocharian B tärk- (“to turn”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Among the OLD's earliest examples is Cicero, who says that a defeated enemy surely often turns his eyes back towards the city.[2]

Semantic evolution

It is to twist round or wrench back: Horace has seen citizens' arms twisted behind their backs, and Ovid a snake bending its head back.[2][4] It is to reverse a course, as the Maeander turning its waters back on themselves, and figuratively to cast one's gaze or thoughts back, or to change one's mind, as Juno does in Virgil.[2] It is also to fling back, especially a missile at the thrower, and so to retort an argument or charge.[2] Caesar uses it of an army column turning aside to the right.[2] The perfect participle describes things bent back on themselves and curly hair.[2]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of eyes turned back to the city.[2][5]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar of a column turning aside.[2][5]
  • 65–8 BC – Horace of arms twisted back.[2][5]
  • 1550s – English retort comes from its participle, partly through French.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To twist or bend back, wrench back.[2][4][7][1]
  2. To turn back, reverse the course of; to cast the eyes or thoughts back; to change one's purpose.[2][4]
  3. To fling back; to throw back a missile, retort a charge or argument.[2][1]
  4. To deflect, turn aside; to avert.[2][1]

Word family

  • irretortus
  • retorta
  • retortus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson