1. n. & v.
--n.
1. an incisive or witty or angry reply.
2 the turning of a charge or argument against its originator.
3 a piece of retaliation.
--v.
1. a tr. say by way of a retort. b intr. make a retort.
2 tr. repay (an insult or attack) in kind.
3 tr. (often foll. by on, upon) return (mischief, a charge, sarcasm, etc.) to its originator.
4 tr. (often foll. by against) make (an argument) tell against its user.
5 tr. (as retorted adj.) recurved; twisted or bent backwards.
Etymology: L retorquere retort- (as RE-, torquere twist) 2. n. & v.
--n.
1. a vessel usu. of glass with a long recurved neck used in distilling liquids.
2 a vessel for heating mercury for purification, coal to generate gas, or iron and carbon to make steel.
--v.tr. purify (mercury) by heating in a retort.
Etymology: F retorte f. med.L retorta fem. past part. of retorquere: see RETORT(1)