rə̇.ˈtrench, rē.ˈ- verb
Etymology: obsolete French retrencher (now retrancher ), from Middle French retrenchier, from re- + trenchier to trench — more at trench
transitive verb
1. obsolete
a. : to cut short : repress
b. : to cut off : intercept
2. : to cut down : lessen , reduce , curtail
must expect to have her pay retrenched — Mary W. Montagu
a long speech … but I could be glad you would retrench it — Thomas Gray
the gentry, compelled to retrench their expenses — T.B.Macaulay
3. : to cut out : excise , omit
retrench a paragraph
4. : to cut off : pare away : do away with : remove
5. : to furnish with a retrenchment in fortifying
intransitive verb
: to make retrenchments or reductions ; specifically : to cut down living expenses : economize
the lords are retrenching visibly — Nancy Mitford
Synonyms: see shorten