v. (also rate) (retted, retting) 1 tr. soften (flax, hemp, etc.) by soaking or by exposure to moisture. 2 intr. (often as retted adj.) (of hay etc.) be spoilt by wet or rot.
[ ME, rel. to ROT ]
RET
Meaning of RET in English
Concise Oxford English dictionary. Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2012