See Also: retract(medicine)
retract(1)(dictionary)
retract(2)(dictionary)
retract(dictionary)

retract(2) (iou)



retract verb2. M16.
[Old & mod. French retracter or Latin retractare, formed as RE- + tractare frequentative of trahere: see RETRACT verb1.]
verb trans. Withdraw, recall, rescind (a decree, declaration, promise, etc.); withdraw or take back (a statement, accusation, etc.) as being erroneous or unjustified. (Implied earlier in RETRACTION 1.) M16.
V. Woolf I must retract some of the things I have said against them. J. Jones A false confession which he later retracted.
b. Chess. Take back or unmake (a move). L19-E20.
verb intrans. Withdraw or disavow a statement etc.; draw back from or go back on a promise, resolve, etc. (Foll. by from.) M17.
C. Peters A later letter retracts and apologizes for the outburst.
b. Cards. Change one's mind after having agreed or declined to play with a certain hand. M19.
Also retractate verb trans. (rare): only in E17.