▪ I. † reˈtrait, n.1 Obs.
[a. F. retrait masc., or retraite fem., noun of action f. retraire:—L. retrahĕre: see retract v.1 Cf. retraict n.1 and retreat n.]
1. A place of retreat or refuge. Also transf.
| 1481 Caxton Godf. cxlviii. 220 Somme they slewe and many moo toke prysonners, and bonde them, and retorned to theyr retrayte. 1587 Greene Penelope's Web Wks. (Grosart) V. 204 Tyme is a retrayte from vanitie and vyce. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. iv. Handicrafts 58 Making our Ile a holy safe retrait For Saints exil'd in persecution's heat. 1626 C. Potter tr. Sarpi's Hist. Quarrels 99 The Capuchines..could not finde..any conuenient retrait, so as many of them died for want of sustenance. |
2. Mil. The signal for retiring. = retreat n. 2 a.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 70 b/2 Thenne Ioab tromped and blewe the retrayt. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccxxi. 287 Than they caused their trumpettes to sowne the retrayt. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 457 Wherefore he caused a retrayte to be blowen. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. (1605) 291 As soon as they heard the retraite. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. ii. 136 Soone after by his bagpipers [he] sounded the retraite. 1648 Fanshawe Il Pastor Fido ii. i, The Megarensian this perceiving, straight To the disordered Troops sounds a retrait. |
3. The action or fact of retiring or retreating, on the part of military forces.
| 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. lxxxvi. 110 Than all..lefte the assaut: in the retrayte ther were two knyghtes..taken. 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons 5 b, Vpon a hastie retraite they may verie well saue and keepe their peeces. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World iv. ii. §4. 179 Old Souldiers are not easily dismaied: we reade in Histories..what braue retraits haue beene made by them. 1658 Sir T. Browne Garden Cyrus i, The occasion of that memorable work, and almost miraculous retrait of Xenophon. |
b. Retirement, retreat, in various senses.
| a 1533 Ld. Berners Golden Bk. M. Aurel. (1559) 118 Forgette not the honestie that ought to be in a Romayne woman, nor retrayte that is requisitte in a wydowe. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. iii. ii. iii. iv. (1651) 490 With a regaining retrait, a gentle reluctancy, a smiling threat. 1633 Earl of Manchester Al Mondo (1636) 40 They counted death but the retrait of life. 1655 Nicholas Papers (Camden) II. 273 His Majestie had desired the Duke might come to him, which is doutlesse a handsomer way for his retraite then if he were sent away. |
4. = retreat n. 6 a. rare—2.
| 1601 Holland Pliny I. 557 In Greece and Asia, they sow all indifferently at the retrait or occultation of Virgiliæ. |
5. Farriery. (See quot., and cf. retract n. 4.)
| 1610 Markham Masterp. ii. xcv. 382 A Retrait is when a horse by the ill gouernment of the smith, is prickt in the foote with some ill driuen naile, yet in such sort that it is immediatly espied, and the naile drawne backe againe. Ibid. xcviii. 389 Quitterbone, retraite, grauelling, or cloying, or such like accident. |
6. ? Return; restoration. rare—1.
| 1618 Weakest goeth to the Wall i. i. in Webster's Wks. (1857) IV. 225 This [reconciliation] joys my soul; and more to let you know How pleasing this retrait of peace doth seem [etc.]. |
▪ II. † reˈtrait, n.2 Obs. rare.
Also retrate.
[ad. It. ritratto, Sp. and Pg. retrato, on analogy of prec. or of portrait.]
Portraiture, portrait, picture.
| 1590 Spenser F. Q. ii. iii. 25 Under the shadow of her even browes, Working belgardes and amorous retrate. Ibid. ix. 4 Shee is the mighty Queene of Faery, Whose faire retraitt I in my shield doe beare. |
▪ III. † reˈtrait, pa. pple. and ppl. a. Obs. rare.
[a. F. retrait, pa. pple. of retraire: see retrait n.1]
Reserved, set apart; secluded.
| 1440 in Wars Eng. in France (Rolls) II. 590 The most notable tounes and placis..shuld be retrait for the saide capitaineries and there feleshippes be geven. 1603 S. Harsnet Popish Impost. 61 Some of theyr lodges so obscure, and retrayte, as none but a priest or deuil could euer haue sented it out. |
▪ IV. † reˈtrait, v. Obs.
Also 6–7 retra(i)te, retrayt(e.
[f. ppl. stem of F. retraire: cf. prec. and retrait n.1]
1. trans. To withdraw, take away, remove.
| 1593 Nashe Christ's T. 34 b, No relenting thought of mine, shall retraite you [sc. hands]. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. vii. xliv. §36. 365 Which..caused him to retrait his Host into a place of securitie. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World iii. (1634) 45 Artaphernes..had no other hope of safetie, than by retraiting himselfe into the Castle. |
2. intr. To retreat, retire.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 37 b, The Englishemen.., beynge content with their prey and gayne, began to retraite towarde the siege again. 1590 Spenser F. Q. i. i. 13 Yet wisedome warnes, whilest foot is in the gate, To stay the steppe, ere forced to retrate. 1624 Quarles Sion's Elegies ii. ix, Ioy is departed from the holy Gates Of deare Ierusalem, and peace retraits From wasted Sion. |
b. To draw back, retract. rare—1.
| 1606 Bp. Hall Medit. & Vowes i. §10 Some promise what they cannot doe, as Satan to Christ;..some, what they meant for the time, and after retrait, as Laban to Jacob. |
c. To return. rare—1.
| 1625 Bp. H. King David's Enlargement 26 I retrait to my text in S. Ambrose his words. |
d. To have recourse to something. rare—1.
| 1650 Fuller Pisgah ii. xii. 260 Yet such as will justifie Jonathans act herein..must retrait to divine inspiration. |