retort

plural retorts

1. A sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator; a comeback.

   He countered her insult with a clever retort.

present singular third person retorts · participle present retorting · participle past retorted · past retorted

1. To say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation.

   “It is a pity,” he retorted with aggravating meekness, “that they do not use a little common sense. The case resembles that of Columbus' egg, and is every bit as simple.[…]”

   1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Ayrsham Mystery”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020

   Synonyms: comeback, rejoinder, back answer

2. To make a remark which reverses an argument upon its originator; to return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility.

   to retort the charge of vanity

   1 more example

   And with retorted scorn his back he turned.

   1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

3. To bend or curve back.

   a retorted line

   1 more example

   With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated.

   1829, Robert Southey, “(please specify the page)”, in Sir Thomas More: or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC

4. To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.

   As when his virtues, shining upon others, / Heat them and they retort that heat again / To the first giver.

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]

   1 more example

   Glasses were filled, arresting the trooper on a theme of passion; the pariahdom of the country cop, whose self-respect is to retort the law's blackmail for blackmail levied on his self-respect.

   1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 162

plural retorts

1. chemistryA flask with a rounded base and a long neck that is bent down and tapered, used to heat a liquid for distillation.

   A large curved retort was boiling furiously in the bluish flame of a Bunsen burner, and the distilled drops were condensing into a two-litre measure.

   1893, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Naval Treaty, Norton, page 670

2. An airtight vessel in which material is subjected to high temperatures in the chemical industry or as part of an industrial manufacturing process, especially during the smelting and forging of metal.
3. A pressure cooker.

   The retort is above boiling water. Beneath is a furnace. To the right a man is removing the chips from which the camphor has been extracted.

   March 1920, Alice Ballantine Kirjassoff, “FORMOSA THE BEAUTIFUL”, in National Geographic Magazine, page 268

4. A crematory furnace.

present singular third person retorts · participle present retorting · participle past retorted · past retorted

1. transitiveTo heat in a retort.