Retort \Re*tort"\, v. i. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. --Pope.
Retort \Re*tort"\, n. [See {Retort}, v. t.] 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.
Retort \Re*tort"\, v. t. [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}, n., 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.
"Sentimentalism" is a frequent retort in what promises to be a deeper and wider debate, but "sentimentalism" is often a contemptuous term for concern.
Repartee Backward, turn backward, O time in your flight; I just thought of a retort I needed last night.
I like to call it the abolition or destruction of the strike forces." Nonsense, retort Justice Department officials.
It also argues that Badla gives brokers opportunities for excessively risky leveraged forward trading. The brokers retort that some speculation is essential to provide liquidity to the market.
But political consultants like Mr. Rove envision a retort that could turn those bluecollar workers against Mr. Buchanan: the argument that he was one of the few conservatives who opposed the Persian Gulf War.
On Saturday, Endara issued a retort to the Rio group's statement.
This provoked an angry retort from Mr Delors who said: 'There is always a question of winners and losers (for him).
(How should a dissenter retort: gesticulate, make faces, do a tap-dance?) For a minute or two we could imagine ourselves to be re-living some famously contentious Diaghilev premiere like Stravinsky's Sacre du printemps.
The retort from a union negotiator: "We're in for a big fight until they change that way of thinking." How the matter is resolved carries implications beyond Caterpillar and its workers.
Accountants retort that the public doesn't understand how auditing works, fraud would be a lot worse without outside auditors, and a lot of the protection auditors provide the public is never disclosed because of auditor-client confidentiality.
Taking the mortgage rate out of the RPI defies common sense. Nevertheless, the critics retort, not everyone has a mortgage.
Honda officials retort that the Accord's target buyers aren't looking for radical styling.
Instead, she suggests a retort like this: "You're right, I'm late.