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Reserved; shy; not forward or obtrusive; as, retiring modesty; retiring manners.

A retiring of the sea, occasioning a change of high-water mark, whereby land is gained.

To frustrate; to fail; to hinder of result. His retiring foe Shrinks from the wound, and disappoints the blow. Addison.

The time of retiring to rest; time of repose. Cavendish. At the downlying, at the travail in childbirth. [Scot.]

The reflux of tide water; the retiring tide; -- opposed to flood tide.

The retiring room of actors and actresses in a theater.

lust. of Commensal. -- Hermit thrush (Zoöl.), an American thrush (Turdus Pallasii), with retiring habits, but having a sweet song. -- Hermit warbler (Zoöl.), a California wood warbler (Dendroica occidentalis), having the head yellow, the throat black, and the back gray, with black streaks.

ning within due limits of propriety; not forward, bold, boastful, or presumptious; rather retiring than pushing one's self forward; not obstructive; as, a modest youth; a modest man.

y, as of labor, danger, or sacrifice, etc.; as, to purchase favor with flattery. One poor retiring minute . . . Would purchase thee a thousand thousand friends. Shak. A world who would not purchase with a bruise Milton.

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.

The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires. [Obs.] The battle and the retire of the English succors. Bacon. [Eve] discover'd soon the place of her retire. Milton.

The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; withdrawal; seclusion; as, the retirement of an officer. O, blest Retirement, friend of life's decline. Goldsmith. Retirement, rural quiet, friendship, books. Thomson.

The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable. In a retreat he oShak.

The state of being disposed to ruminate or ponder; deliberate meditation or reflection. Retiring full of rumination sad. Thomson.

of American thrushlike birds of the genus Myadestes. They are noted their sweet songs and retiring habits. Called also fly-catching thrush. A West Indian species (Myadestes sibilans) is called the invisible bird.

rtain bivalve mollusks, like the long clams (Mya), which spout, or squirt out, water when retiring into their holes.

A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed, -- usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo. Wilhelm.

Not assuming; not bold or forward; not arrogant or presuming; humble; modest; retiring; as, an unassuming youth; unassuming manners.

tition of the same epithets which we find in Homer. Pope. He had abandoned the frontiers, retiring upon Glasgow. Sir. W. Scott. Philip swore upon the Evangelists to abstain from aggression in my absence. Landor.