Category:Retract

Re*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retracting.] Etym: [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. Ti 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 recal; withdraw; rescind; revoke; unsay; disavow; recant; Abjure; disown.

Retract 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.

Retract Re*tract", n. (far.)

Defn: the pricking of a horse's foot in nailing on a shoe.