🇫🇷French Source WordCode: FR

rétracter

Pronunciation / Transliteration: ʁe.tʁak.te

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Retract/rɪˈtrækt/
verbCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #4500 frequency
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🇫🇷 Example Sentence in French:

"Il a dû rétracter ses accusations publiques."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To draw back or in something, such as a physical part or mechanical extension.

    "The cat can extend and retract its claws at will."
  2. 2

    To formally withdraw a statement, offer, or accusation as being untrue or mistaken.

    "The newspaper was forced to issue an apology and retract the false allegations."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'retractus', the past participle of 'retrahere', meaning to draw back (from 're-' meaning back and 'trahere' meaning to draw). It entered the English language in the late 15th century initially with physical senses of drawing back or withdrawing, later evolving in the 16th century to include the abstract meaning of withdrawing a statement, promise, or accusation.

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