View synonyms for ret

ret

[ ret ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

, ret·ted, ret·ting.

to soak in water or expose to moisture, as flax or hemp, to facilitate the removal of the fiber from the woody tissue by partial rotting.

ret.

abbreviation for

retain.
retired.
return.
returned.

ret

/ rɛt /

verb

tr to moisten or soak (flax, hemp, jute, etc) to promote bacterial action in order to facilitate separation of the fibres from the woody tissue by beating

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Other Words From

un·retted adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ret¹

1400–50; late Middle English reten, retten; cognate with Dutch reten (compare Dutch roten, German rössen, Swedish röta ); akin to rot

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ret¹

C15: of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch reeten , Swedish röta , German rösten ; see rot ¹

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