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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Retort \Re*tort"\, verb (used without an object) To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. --Pope.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Retort \Re*tort"\, noun [See {Retort}, verb (used with an object)]
1. The return of, or reply to, an argument, charge, censure, incivility, taunt, or witticism; a quick and witty or severe response.
This is called the retort courteous. --Shak.
2. [F. retorte (cf. Sp. retorta), fr. L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere. So named from its bent shape. See {Retort}, v. t.] (Chem. & the Arts) A vessel in which substances are subjected to distillation or decomposition by heat. It is made of different forms and materials for different uses, as a bulb of glass with a curved beak to enter a receiver for general chemical operations, or a cylinder or semicylinder of cast iron for the manufacture of gas in gas works.
{Tubulated retort} (Chem.), a retort having a tubulure for the introduction or removal of the substances which are to be acted upon.
Syn: Repartee; answer.
Usage: {Retort}, {Repartee}. A retort is a short and pointed reply, turning back on an assailant the arguments, censure, or derision he had thrown out. A repartee is usually a good-natured return to some witty or sportive remark.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Retort \Re*tort"\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Retorted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Retorting}.] [L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere; pref. re- re- + torquere to turn twist. See {Torsion}, and cf. {Retort}, noun, 2.]
1. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line.
With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated. --Southey.
2. 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. --Shak.
3. To return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity.
And with retorted scorn his back he turned. --Milton.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
retort
noun
1: a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one); "it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher" [syn: {rejoinder}, {return}, {riposte}, {replication}, {comeback}, {counter}]
2: a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat
verb: answer back [syn: {come back}, {repay}, {return}, {riposte}, {rejoin}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
137 Moby Thesaurus words for "retort": acknowledge, acknowledgment, aerosol, alembic, answer, answer back, answering, antiphon, anvil, aphorism, apothegm, atomizer, back answer, back talk, backchat, backfire, bon mot, boomerang, boutade, bright idea, bright thought, brilliant idea, caldron, come back, come back at, come in, comeback, conceit, counter, counterattack, counterblast, counterblow, countercharge, counterfire, counterinsurgency, countermeasure, counterrevolution, counterstep, counterstroke, crack, crucible, defense, echo, engine, epigram, evaporator, evasive reply, exchange, facetiae, flash back, flash of wit, flight of wit, gag, get back at, gibe, give acknowledgment, give and take, give answer, give in exchange, give in return, give-and-take, happy thought, hit back at, interchange, jape, jest, joke, lathe, machine, melting pot, mortar, mot, motor, nasty crack, persiflage, play of wit, pleasantry, quip, quips and cranks, react, reaction, ready reply, rebut, rebuttal, receipt, reciprocate, reciprocation, recoil, recrimination, reecho, rejoin, rejoinder, repartee, replication, reply, repost, reprisal, rescript, rescription, respond, respondence, response, responsion, responsory, retaliate, retaliation, return, return answer, return for answer, revenge, reverberate, reverberation, riposte, sally, say, say in reply, scintillation, shoot back, short answer, smart crack, smart saying, snappy comeback, spray, still, strike back, stroke of wit, talk back, test tube, transducer, transformer, turn of thought, vaporizer, wisecrack, witticism, witty reply, witty retort, yes-and-no answer
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