ret

¹

[ ret ]

verb (used with object)

, ret·ted, ret·ting.

1. to soak in water or expose to moisture, as flax or hemp, to facilitate the removal of the fiber from the woody tissue by partial rotting.

ret.

²

abbreviation for

1. retain.
2. retired.
3. return.
4. returned.

ret

/ rɛt /

verb

1. tr to moisten or soak (flax, hemp, jute, etc) to promote bacterial action in order to facilitate separation of the fibres from the woody tissue by beating

Other Words From

• un·retted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ret¹

1400–50; late Middle English reten, retten; cognate with Dutch reten (compare Dutch roten, German rössen, Swedish röta ); akin to rot

Word History and Origins

Origin of ret¹

C15: of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch reeten , Swedish röta , German rösten ; see rot ¹

Example Sentences

As the Navy and Marines arrive in Haiti to bring relief, Ret.

From The Daily Beast

The Daily Beast experts Peter Beinart, Nicolle Wallace, Tunku Varadarajan, Christopher Brownfield, Saad Mohseni, Ret.

From The Daily Beast

Maype he trinks ret ink gocktails, like de Injuns; maype he trinks Florita Vater, oder golone.

From Project Gutenberg

Dot pig ret car comes rolling righdt oop to us, invitationing us to grab holt und keep it—vich ve don'd.

From Project Gutenberg

Retirade, ret-i-rd′, n. a retrenchment in the body of a bastion which a garrison may defend.

From Project Gutenberg

Retina, ret′i-na, n. the innermost coating of the eye, consisting of a fine network of optic nerves.

From Project Gutenberg

Retinue, ret′i-nū, n. the body of retainers who follow a person of rank: a suite: a cortege.

From Project Gutenberg