RETREAT • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Retreat

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/ritrˈit/ Listen

noun

Retreat n.

1.

The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable.

2.

The place to which anyone retires; a place or privacy or safety; a refuge; an asylum. "He built his son a house of pleasure, and spared no cost to make a delicious retreat." "That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat."

3.

(Mil. & Naval.)

(a)

The retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy, or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position.

(b)

The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy for the purpose of avoiding an engagement or escaping after defeat.

(c)

A signal given in the army or navy, by the beat of a drum or the sounding of trumpet or bugle, at sunset (when the roll is called), or for retiring from action. Note: A retreat is properly an orderly march, in which circumstance it differs from a flight.

4.

(Eccl.)

(a)

A special season of solitude and silence to engage in religious exercises.

(b)

A period of several days of withdrawal from society to a religious house for exclusive occupation in the duties of devotion; as, to appoint or observe a retreat.

Synonyms: Retirement; departure; withdrawment; seclusion; solitude; privacy; asylum; shelter; refuge.

verb

Retreat v. i. (past & past part. retreated; pres. part. retreating) To make a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field. "The rapid currents drive Towards the retreating sea their furious tide."

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Etymology of 'Retreat'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Retreat" Quotes from Famous Books

... rent them apart to give room to walk upright;[1] so gods and men walked together in the early myths, but in the later traditions, called historical, the heavens do actually get pushed farther away from man and the gods retreat thither. The fabulous demigods depart one by one from Hawaii; first the great gods—Kane, Ku, Lono, and Kanaloa; then the demigods, save Pele of the volcano. The supernatural race of the dragons and other beast gods who came from "the shining heavens" to people Hawaii, ...

— The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai • Anonymous

... the palace where the king my uncle was, who defended himself till he was killed, and sold his life at a dear rate. For my part I fought as well as I could for a while, but, seeing we were forced to submit to a superior power, I thought on my retreat and safety, which I had the good fortune to effect by some back ways, and got to one of the king's servants, on whose ...

— The Arabian Nights Entertainments Volume 1 • Anonymous

... one word to say," he added, placing himself near enough to the door to effect a hasty retreat in case of necessity. "My mother is disposed to accept your offer of ten thousand dollars for a quitclaim deed of the block of stores. I don't intend that she shall do anything of the kind. I've been to my lawyer, sir—a gentleman recommended by Choate; ...

— Make or Break - or, The Rich Man's Daughter • Oliver Optic

... meal very quickly, people congregated in the hall, where they felt more secure than in any other place because they could retreat far from the windows, and although they heard the thunder, they could not see anything. A little boy was carried away sobbing in ...

— The Voyage Out • Virginia Woolf

... train—pursuers and pursued—helter-skelter fell into the quarters of the waltzers. The kitten attempted to take up a position behind a plateau on one of the side-boards: but from this she was immediately dislodged by Juno; and the retreat commencing afresh right across the side-boards which were loaded with refreshments, all went to wreck—glasses and china, all was afloat—sherbet and lemonade, raspberry-vinegar and orgeat: and at the very moment when Mr. Jeremiah returned, the belligerent ...

— The Uncollected Writings of Thomas de Quincey, Vol. 2 - With a Preface and Annotations by James Hogg • Thomas de Quincey

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