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A fast place; a stronghold; a fortress or fort; a secure retreat; a castle; as, the enemy retired to their fastnesses in the mountains.

This, yielding, gave into a grassy walk. Tennyson. To give back, to recede; to retire; to retreat. They gave back and came no farther. Bunyan. -- To give in, to yield; to succumb; to acknowledge one's self beaten; to cease opposition. The Scots battalion was enforced to give in. Hayward. This consideration may induce a…

dvantage. These nine . . . began to give me ground. Shak. --To lose ground, to retire; to retreat; to withdraw from the position taken; hence, to lose advantage; to lose credit or reputation; to decline. -- To stand one's ground, to stand firm; to resist attack or encroachment. Atterbury. -- To take the ground to tou…

d with passionate affection. (b) (Mil.) To hover around; as, to hang upon the flanks of a retreating enemy.

To set on fire; to kindle; to cause to burn, flame, or glow. We should have made retreat By light of the inflamed fleet. Chapman.

To retire into a den, or hole, and lie dormant in winter; to retreat and lie hid. [R.] G. Shaw.

t does not oblige me to look after the water, or point forth the place where to it is now retreated. Woodward. -- To look at, to direct the eyes toward so that one sees, or as if to see; as, to look at a star; hence, to observe, examine, consider; as, to look at a matter without prejudice. -- To look black, to frown;…

tern, and are generally used in groups, the different members of each group projecting or retreating, one beyond another. See Cable, n., 3, and Crenelated molding, under Crenelate, v. t.

eton of an early type of man. The skull is characterized by extreme dolichocephaly, flat, retreating forehead, with closed frontal sutures, and enormous superciliary ridges. The cranial capacity is estimated at about 1,220 cubic centimeters, being about midway between that of the Pithecanthropus and modern man. Hence,…

A snug, comfortable, or cozy residence or situation; a retreat, or place of habitual resort; hence, those who occupy a nest, frequent a haunt, or are associated in the same pursuit; as, a nest of traitors; a nest of bugs. A little cottage, like some poor man's nest. Spenser.

rrow place formed by an angle in bodies or between bodies; a corner; a recess; a secluded retreat. How couldst thou find this dark, sequestered nook Milton.

Having the front of the head, or the skull, nearly perpendicular, not retreating backwards above the jaws; -- opposed to Ant: prognathous. See Gnathic index, under Gnathic.

A native Parthia. Parthian arrow, an arrow discharged at an enemy when retreating from him, as was the custom of the ancient Parthians; hence, a parting shot.

place calculated for the rendezvous of men in arms, etc., as a fort which affords a safe retreat for hospitals, magazines, etc. Wilhelm. -- High place (Script.), a mount on which sacrifices were offered. "Him that offereth in the high place." Jer. xlviii. 35. -- In place, in proper position; timely. -- Out of place…

A place of seclusion from company or observation; retreat; solitude; retirement. Her sacred privacies all open lie. Rowe.

To move back; to retreat; to withdraw. Like the hollow roar Of tides receding from the instituted shore. Dryden. All bodies moved circularly endeavor to recede from the center. Bentley.

A withdrawing or retiring; a moving back; retreat; as, the recess of the tides. Every degree of ignorance being so far a recess and degradation from rationality. South. My recess hath given them confidence that I may be conquered. Eikon Basilike.

g back, or coursing again, along the line of a previous coursing; renewed course; return; retreat; recurence. [Obs.] "Swift recourse of flushing blood." Spenser. Unto my first I will have my recourse. Chaucer. Preventive physic . . . preventeth sickness in the healthy, or the recourse thereof in the valetudinary. Sir T…

of the Congregation devote themselves to preaching to the neglected, esp. in missions and retreats, and are forbidden by their rule to engage in the instruction of youth.

Retreat; refuge. [Obs.] Shak.