retort etymology

Etymology

The word "retort" has two etymological roots:

• Latin: retorquere, meaning "to twist back" or "to turn upon oneself"
• Old French: retourner, meaning "to turn back"

Meaning

A retort is a:

• Response: A quick or sharp reply or argument, often intended to counter an objection or accusation.
• Scientific apparatus: A container used in chemistry and distillation processes, typically made of glass or porcelain.

Origin

The word "retort" first appeared in English in the 14th century as a term for a scientific apparatus used in alchemy. It was later adopted more broadly to refer to a sharp or witty response, particularly in the context of debate or argument.

Usage

In modern usage, "retort" is most commonly used to describe a quick and pointed response that is intended to refute or counter an opponent's argument. It often implies a sense of cleverness or wit, and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Examples

• "The politician's retort to the reporter's question was both witty and devastating."
• "I had a sharp retort ready for his rude comment, but I decided to keep it to myself."
• "The chemist used a retort to distill the essential oils from the plants."

retort relate terms

• torque

  Etymology Derived from the Latin word torquere meaning to twist or to turn Me

• redact

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• redeem

  Etymology The word redeem comes from the Latin word redimere which means to buy bac

• redolent

  Etymology Latin redolēns fragrant Present participle of the verb redolēre to g

• redundant

  Etymology Redundant comes from the Latin word redundare which means to overflow or

• redintegrate

  Etymology Latin redintegrare Prefix re again anew Root integrare to make

• render

  Etymology Old French rendre Late Latin reddere Proto Indo European red Meaning

• rally

  Etymology The word rally comes from the Old French word rallier which means to gath

• receive

  Etymology The word receive comes from the Middle English word receiven which itself

• recommend

  Recommend Etymology From the Old French recommander to commend recommend itself f

• reduce

  Etymology Latin reducere from re back ducere to lead Middle French reduir

• recreate

  Etymology Etymology is derived from the Greek words etymon ἔτυμον true sen

• refer

  Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way their form and meaning have chan

• religion

  Etymology The word religion is derived from the Latin word religio which means rev

• remain

  Etymology The word remain is derived from the Old French word remeindre modern Frenc

• request

  Etymology The word request comes from the Middle English word requeste which in tu

• require

  Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the ways in which their meanings have ch

• recovery

  Etymology of Recovery The word recovery originates from the Old French term recover

• rebel

  Etymology The word rebel derives from the Latin verb rebellāre meaning to rise ag

• relic

  Etymology Middle English relike Old French relique Latin reliquia a thing left beh

• remnant

  Etymology The word remnant is derived from the late Middle English word remenant wh

• restive

  Etymology The word restive comes from the Latin word restare meaning to stand still

• rest

  Etymology The word rest originates from the Old English word restan which means to

• rally

  Etymology The word rally comes from the Old French word rallier which means to gath

• ransom

  Etymology Middle English raunson from Anglo Norman French raençon from Late Latin r

• redemption

  Etymology Redemption derives from the Latin word redemptio which means a buying back

• rampart

  Etymology and Meaning The word rampart comes from the Middle English term rampart w

• rebuild

  Etymology The word rebuild is derived from the Old English words re meaning again

• refill

  Etymology The word refill is derived from the French word refiller meaning to fill

• reset

  Etymology The word reset has its roots in the Middle English word resetten which mea

• rewrite

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It traces the develo

• regret

  Etymology Old French regretter Late Latin regretari meaning to murmur complain Po

• regard

  Etymology The word regard comes from the Middle French word regarder which means t

• reward

  Etymology Middle English rewarde from Anglo French rewarde reward from Old French r

• contort

  Etymology From Middle English contorten to twist or bend out of shape from Late La

• distort

  Etymology Latin distorquere meaning to twist out of shape Dis apart torquere

• extort

  Etymology The word extort comes from the Latin word extorquere which means to twist

• extortion

  Etymology Latin extorquēre to wring out French extorquer to extort Meaning

• nasturtium

  Etymology The word nasturtium comes from Latin nasus nose torquere to twis

• queer

  Etymology of Queer The word queer has a complex and evolving etymology Late Middl

• retort

  Etymology The word retort has two etymological roots Latin retorquere meaning to

• thwart

  Etymology The word thwart has its origins in the Old English word þweorh which mean

• torch

  Etymology The word torch has its origins in the Old French word torche which itself

• torment

  Etymology Old French tormenter Latin tormentum Greek tormén instrument of to

• torque

  Etymology Derived from the Latin word torquere meaning to twist or to turn Me

• torsion

  Etymology The word torsion is derived from the Latin word torsio meaning a twisting

• tort

  Etymology The word tort derives from the Old French word tort meaning wrong or i

• torticollis

  Etymology Latin tortus twisted collum neck Meaning A condition character

• tortuous

  Etymology Latin tortuosus meaning crooked winding Late Latin tortura meaning

• torture

  Etymology The word torture comes from the Latin tortus meaning twisted or wrung

• truss

  Etymology Middle English trus Old French trus beam support Late Latin trabs beam

• repay

  Etymology The word repay originates from two Old French words re meaning again

• riposte

  Etymology French from Italian riposta from ripostare meaning to place again from

• Walker

  Etymology The surname Walker is derived from the Middle English word walker which m

• esprit

  Etymology The word esprit comes from the Old French word espirit which in turn comes

• funny

  1 Etymology Balderdash Meaning Nonsense foolish talk Origin From Middle English ba

• mouth

  Etymology The word mouth comes from the Old English word mūþ which is believed to

• vessel

  Etymology Middle English vessel from Anglo French vaissel vessel from Latin vas ge

• response

  Etymology The word response is derived from the Latin word responsum which means an