reticent, self-effacing, retiring
(adjective) reluctant to draw attention to yourself
preceding, past(a), retiring
(adjective) of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office; “a retiring member of the board”
retiring, unassuming
(adjective) not arrogant or presuming; “unassuming to a fault, skeptical about the value of his work”; “a shy retiring girl”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
retiring
introverted, liking privacy and seclusion.
retiring
present participle of retire
retiring (plural retirings)
retirement
One day of those his retirings [SIC], giving out that he was sick, his father Antigonus came on the sudden to visit him, and met a fair dainty youth coming out of his chamber.
Source: Wiktionary
Re*tir"ing, a.
1. Reserved; shy; not forward or obtrusive; as, retiring modesty; retiring manners.
2. Of or pertaining to retirement; causing retirement; suited to, or belonging to, retirement. Retiring board (Mil.), a board of officers who consider and report upon the alleged incapacity of an officer for active service.
– Retiring pension, a pension granted to a public officer on his retirement from office or service.
Re*tire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retired; p. pr. & vb. n. Retiring.] Etym: [F. retirer; pref. re- re- + tirer to draw. See Tirade.]
1. To withdraw; to take away; -- sometimes used reflexively. He . . . retired himself, his wife, and children into a forest. Sir P. Sidney. As when the sun is present all the year, And never doth retire his golden ray. Sir J. Davies.
2. To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay; as, to retire bonds; to retire a note.
3. To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list; as, to retire a military or naval officer.
Re*tire", v. i.
1. To go back or return; to draw back or away; to keep aloof; to withdraw or retreat, as from observation; to go into privacy; as, to retire to his home; to retire from the world, or from notice. To Una back he cast him to retire. Spenser. The mind contracts herself, and shrinketh in, And to herself she gladly doth retire. Sir J. Davies.
2. To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle. Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 2 Sam. xi. 15.
3. To withdraw from a public station, or from business; as, having made a large fortune, he retired. And from Britannia's public posts retire. Addison.
4. To recede; to fall or bend back; as, the shore of the sea retires in bays and gulfs.
5. To go to bed; as, he usually retires early.
Syn.
– To withdraw; leave; depart; secede; recede; retreat; retrocede.
Re*tire", n.
1. The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires. [Obs.] The battle and the retire of the English succors. Bacon. [Eve] discover'd soon the place of her retire. Milton.
2. (Mil.)
Definition: A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
3 May 2025
(adjective) worth having or seeking or achieving; “a desirable job”; “computer with many desirable features”; “a desirable outcome”
The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.
