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The act of retaliating, or of returning like for like; retribution; now, specifically, the return of evil for evil; e.g., an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. God . . . takes what is done to others as done to himself, and by promise obloges himself to full retaliation. Calamy.

To go back or return; to draw back or away; to keep aloof; to withdraw or retreat, as from observation; to go into privacy; as, to retire to his home; to retire from the world, or from notice. To Una back he cast him to retire. Spenser. The mind contracts herself, and shrinketh in, And to herself she gladly doth retire…

To return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity. And with retorted scorn his back he turned. Milton.

To pay back; to give in return, as payment, reward, or punishment; to requite; as, to retribute one for his kindness; to retribute just punishment to a criminal. [Obs. or R.] Locke.

That which is given in repayment or compensation; return suitable to the merits or deserts of, as an action; commonly, condign punishment for evil or wrong. All who have their reward on earth, . . . Naught seeking but the praise of men, here find Fit retribution, empty as their deeds. Milton.

To act backward, or in return; to act in opposition; to be retrospective.

Action returned, or action backward.

Fitted or designed to retroact; operating by returned action; affecting what is past; retrospective. Beddoes. Retroactive law or statute (Law), one which operates to make criminal or punishable, or in any way expressly to affect, acts done prior to the passing of the law.

To inflict harm in return for, as an injury, insult, etc.; to exact satisfaction for, under a sense of injury; to avenge; -- followed either by the wrong received, or by the person or thing wronged, as the object, or by the reciprocal pronoun as direct object, and a preposition before thewrong done or the wrongdoer. To…

That which returns, or comes back, from an investment; the annual rents, profits, interest, or issues of any species of property, real or personal; income. Do not anticipate your revenues and live upon air till you know what you are worth. Gray.

To return or send back; to repel or drive back; to echo, as sound; to reflect, as light, as light or heat. Who, like an arch, reverberates The voice again. Shak.

To cause to return; to recall. [Obs.] And to his fresh remembrance did reverse The ugly view of his deformed crimes. Spenser.

The act of returning, or coming back; return. [Obs.] After his reversion home, [he] was spoiled, also, of all that he brought with him. Foxe.

To return; to come back. So that my arrows Would have reverted to my bow again. Shak.

Reverting, or tending to revert; returning. -- Re*vert"ive*ly, adv. The tide revertive, unattracted, leaves A yellow waste of idle sands behind. Thomson.

To vibrate back or in return. -- Re`vi*bra"tion, n.

Return to life. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

To vie with, or rival, in return.

To return to life; to recover life or strength; to live anew; to become reanimated or reinvigorated. Shak. The Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into again, and he revived. 1 Kings xvii. 22.

Returning or restoring to life or vigor; reanimating. Milton. -- Re*viv"ing*ly, adv.