retract

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
  2. verb pull away from a source of disgust or fear
  3. verb use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ)

Etymology

From Late Middle English retracten, retract (“to absorb, draw in”), from Latin retractus (“withdrawn”), the perfect passive participle of Latin retrahō (“to draw or pull back, withdraw; to bring back; to compel to turn back; to recall; to get back, recover; to hold back, restrain, withhold; to remove, take away; to bring to light again; (Late Latin) to delay”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + trahō (“to drag, pull; to extract, withdraw”). Doublet of retreat.

In classic literature

Synonyms

abjure, recant, forswear, resile

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