retorts
plural of retort
retorts
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of retort
• Rotters, rotters, stertor
Source: Wiktionary
Re*tort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retorting.] Etym: [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.
Re*tort", v. i.
Definition: To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. Pope.
Re*tort", n. Etym: [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. Etym: [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)
Definition: 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.
– 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
7 January 2025
(adverb) in an uninformative manner; “‘I can’t tell you when the manager will arrive,’ he said rather uninformatively”
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
