Retort Definition
rĭ-tôrt
retorted, retorts
verb
retorted, retorts
To turn (an insult, epithet, deed, etc.) back upon the person from whom it came.
Webster's New World
To reply, esp. in a sharp, quick, or witty way, or in kind.
Webster's New World
To answer (an argument, etc.) in kind.
Webster's New World
To say in reply or response.
Webster's New World
To return in kind; pay back.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
noun
retorts
A quick, sharp, or witty reply, esp. one that turns the words of the previous speaker back upon that speaker.
Webster's New World
The act or practice of making such a reply.
Webster's New World
A container, generally of glass and with a long tube, in which substances are distilled, as in a laboratory.
Webster's New World
A vessel in which ore is heated to extract a metal, coal is heated to produce gas, etc.
Webster's New World
Origin of Retort
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French retorte from Medieval Latin retorta from feminine of Latin retortus past participle of retorquēre to bend back retort1
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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Latin retorquēre retort- to bend back, retort re- re- torquēre to bend, twist terkw- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Latin retortus, from retorquere (“to be forced to twist back").
From Wiktionary
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From French retorte.
From Wiktionary
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