RETRENCH

retrench

(verb) make a reduction, as in one’s workforce; “The company had to retrench”

retrench

(verb) tighten one’s belt; use resources carefully

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology 1

Verb

retrench (third-person singular simple present retrenches, present participle retrenching, simple past and past participle retrenched)

(transitive) To cut down or reduce.

(transitive, specifically) To terminate the employment of a worker to reduce the size of a workforce; to make redundant.

Synonyms: fire, let go, sack, Thesaurus:lay off

(transitive) To confine; to limit; to restrict.

(transitive, military) To furnish with a retrenchment (a defensive work within a fortification).

(intransitive) To abridge; to curtail.

(intransitive) To take up a new defensive position.

(intransitive) To live less expensively; to economize.

Etymology 2

Verb

retrench (third-person singular simple present retrenches, present participle retrenching, simple past and past participle retrenched)

(transitive) To dig or redig a trench where one already exists.

Anagrams

• trencher

Source: Wiktionary

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Re*trench", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retrenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Retrenching.] Etym: [OF. retrenchier, F. retrancher; pref. re- re- + OF. trenchier, F. trancher, to cut. See Trench.]

1. To cut off; to pare away. Thy exuberant parts retrench. Denham.

2. To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench superfluities or expenses. But this thy glory shall be soon retrenched. Milton.

3. To confine; to limit; to restrict. Addison. These figures, ought they then to receive a retrenched interpretation I. Taylor.

4. (Fort.)

Definition: To furnish with a retrenchment; as, to retrench bastions.

Syn.

– To lesen; diminish; curtail; abridge.

Re*trench", v. i.

Definition: To cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down living expenses; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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