retractability
Variant of retract
re·tract (ri trakt′)
transitive verb, intransitive verb
- to draw back or in to retract claws
- to withdraw or disavow (a statement, promise, offer, charge, etc.); recant
Etymology: ME retracten: in retractsense < L retractus, pp. of retrahere, to draw back < re-, back + trahere, to draw; in retractsense < MFr retracter < L retractare, to draw back, withdraw < re-, back + tractare, to pull, draw, freq. of trahere
Related Forms:
- retractability re·tract′·abil′·ity noun
- retractable re·tract′·able adjective
- retractive re·trac′·tive adjective
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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