Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act of turning or bending back.
  • noun The act of giving back or retaliating anything, as an accusation or an indignity; a retort.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Act of retorting or throwing back; reflection or turning back.
  • noun (Law) Retaliation.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun retorsion

Etymologies

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Examples

  • At what might otherwise have been the height of the immediate crisis at the end of July 1922, the Reparations Commission decided to take its summer holidays, effectively postponing any settlement of the exchange turmoil until mid-August; and M. Poincare, bent as ever (it was believed) on Germany's destruction, sent a Note to Berlin accusing the government of wilful default on its debts, and threatening 'retortion'.

    Mises Dailies 2009

  • Only, it were desirable that those by whom such reproofs are managed would take care not to give advantages of retortion or self-justification unto them that are reproved by them; but this they do unavoidably, whilst they seem to make their own judgments and practices the sole rule and measure of what they approve or disallow.

    A Discourse concerning Evangelical Love, Church Peace, and Unity 1616-1683 1965

  • There were, besides, the wish to be prepared for war by the home production of war material, and also the spirit of commercial retortion, paying back in her own coin England's burdensome tax upon our exports to her shores.

    History of the United States, Volume 3 (of 6) Elisha Benjamin Andrews 1880

  • The right of retaliation, or just retortion, for equivalent damage on any part of an enemy's property, is permitted to every nation.

    Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry 1817

  • The right of retaliation, or just retortion, for equivalent damage on any part of an enemy's property, is permitted to every nation.

    Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry Wirt, William, 1772-1834 1817

  • Dr Borg said the granting of visas under Schengen rules should not be in any way abused as an instrument of political retortion.

    timesofmalta.com 2010

  • Dr Borg said the granting of visas under Schengen rules should not be in any way abused as an instrument of political retortion.

    timesofmalta.com 2010

  • "This acquisitiveness invites, as a matter of course, retortion by those who suffer most from its consequences either to reparate injuries or end injustices

    ANC Today 2006

  • "This acquisitiveness invites, as a matter of course, retortion by those who suffer most from its consequences either to reparate injuries or end injustices (real or perceived).

    ANC Today 2006

  • By retortion in great quickness, by concession of the conclusion, and granting she was a dog, she borroweth the argument, and taketh it from Christ’s mouth to prove her question.

    The Tryal & Triumph of Faith: or An Exposition of the History of Christs dispossessing of the daughter of the woman of Canaan. 1600-1661 1645

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