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retortion

 - 4 dictionary results

re⋅tor⋅tion

  [ri-tawr-shuhn]
Use retortion in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act of turning or bending back.
2. retaliation.
3. International Law. retorsion.
Origin:
1585–95; < ML retortiōn- (s. of retortiō), equiv. to L retort(us) (see retort 1 ) + -iōn- -ion

re⋅tor⋅sion

  [ri-tawr-shuhn]
–noun International Law.
retaliation or reprisal by one state identical or similar to an act by an offending state, such as high tariffs or discriminating duties.
Also, retortion.

Origin:
1650–60; < ML retorsiōn- (s. of retorsiō, var. of retortiō); see retortion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To retortion
re·tor·sion or re·tor·tion   (rĭ-tôr'shən)   
n.  An act perpetrated by one nation upon another in retaliation or reprisal for a similar act perpetrated by the other nation.

[Probably French rétorsion, from Latin retortus (influenced by Late Latin torsiō, a twisting, wringing), past participle of retorquēre, to cast back; see retort1.]
re·tor·tion   (rĭ-tôr'shən)   
n.  Variant of retorsion.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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