Category:Retrench

Re*trench", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retrenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Retrenching.] Etym: [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.)

Defn: to furnish with a retrenchment; as, to retrench bastions.

Syn. -- to lesen; diminish; curtail; abridge.

Retrench Re*trench", v. i.

Defn: to cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down Living expenses; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to live Embarrassed.