retreat English · revision 7589

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la retraho}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɹɪˈtɹiːt/, /ɹəˈtɹiːt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English retret, [[bor|fro|retret]], retrait,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) a noun use of the past participle of retrere, retraire, to draw back,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from Latin [[m|la|retraho|alt=retrahere|t=to draw back]] (see [[retract]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from re-, back, and trahere, to draw (see [[tract]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The verb is partly from the noun and partly from Old French retraiter.^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A step backwards: probably about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The signal for military withdrawal is from 1375, in Barbour's ''The Bruce''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The act of withdrawing is from 1390–93, in Gower,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and especially of an army after defeat from 1579 (''to beat a retreat'').^(OED 1989) A safe, quiet place of seclusion is from probably before 1437.^(Barnhart 1988) A period of retirement for religious self-examination is from 1756,^(Etymonline) and an establishment for the mentally ill from 1797.^(Etymonline) The verb, to draw back or in, is from 1422,^(Barnhart 1988) and to withdraw from battle from before 1460.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – a step backwards.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1375 – the military signal.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1393 – a withdrawal.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1422 – the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1437 – a place of seclusion.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1756 – a religious retreat.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of [[withdraw|alt=withdrawing]], especially from danger or an enemy.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A place of [[peace]], quiet and safety.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A period of [[seclusion]], as for prayer or study.^(AHD)

+ # A [[signal]] for troops to withdraw.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To draw back; to [[retire]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(military)'' To fall back in the face of an enemy.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[retreater]]

+ * [[retreatal]]

+ * [[retreative]]

+ * [[retreatant]]

+ * [[retreatism]]

+ * [[unretreating]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[retract]]

+ * [[retire]]

+ * [[tract]]

+ * [[treat]]

+ * [[trait]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}