retortion

[ ri-tawr-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of turning or bending back.
2. retaliation.
3. International Law. retorsion.

retortion

/ rɪˈtɔːʃən /

noun

1. the act of retorting
2. a variant spelling of retorsion

Word History and Origins

Origin of retortion¹

1585–95; < Medieval Latin retortiōn- (stem of retortiō ), equivalent to Latin retort ( us ) ( retort ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion