Etymology

retreat

R1E1T1R1E1A1T1

Today it means: The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant. Full definition →

Middle English retret ← Old French retrait ← Latin retractus
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retreat · noun, verb1

  1. Latin · derived fromretractus
  2. Old French · derived fromretrait
  3. Middle English · inherited fromretret
  4. English todayretreat

From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret, from Latin retractus, from retraho. Doublet of retract, retrait, and ritratto.

retreat · verb2

  1. Proto-Italic*wre-
  2. Latinre-
  3. Old Frenchre-
  4. Middle Englishre-
  5. Englishre-
  6. Englishtreat
  7. English todayretreat

From re- + treat.

Words from the same roots

Latinretractus all →

retract

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.