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tiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable. In a retreat he oShak.

Furnishing or serving as a retreat. [R.] "Our retreatful flood." Chapman.

The act of retreating; specifically, the Hegira. [R.] D'Urfey.

s tuneful Muse affords the sweetest numbers. Addison. The quiet lanes . . . afford calmer retreats. Gilpin.

Any place of retreat and security. Earth has no other asylum for them than its own cold bosom. Southey.

main current of a stream; an eddy. -- To take the back track, to retrace one's steps; to retreat. [Colloq.]

), to change the course of a ship, and make her run before the wind. -- To bear back, to retreat. "Bearing back from the blows of their sable antagonist." Sir W. Scott. -- To bear down upon (Naut.), to approach from the windward side; as, the fleet bore down upon the enemy. -- To bear in with (Naut.), to run or tend…

r, by beat of drum; to sound by beat of drum; as, to beat an alarm, a charge, a parley, a retreat; to beat the general, the reveille, the tattoo. See Alarm, Charge, Parley, etc. To beat down, to haggle with (any one) to secure a lower price; to force down. [Colloq.] -- To beat into, to teach or instill, by repetition.…

A rustic cottage or abode; poetically, an attractive abode or retreat. Shenstone. B. Johnson.

lives by plunder; one of a band of robbers; especially, one of a gang living in mountain retreats; a highwayman; a freebooter. Giving them not a little the air of brigands or banditti. Jeffery.

es formed in the wall or side of an enemy's gallery, to blow in the earth and cut off the retreat of the miners. Farrow.

To fall in or down; as, the sand bank caved. Hence (Slang), to retreat from a position; to give way; to yield in a disputed matter. To cave in. Etym: [Flem. inkalven.] (a) To fall in and leave a hollow, as earth on the side of a well or pit. (b) To submit; to yield. [Slang] H. Kingsley.

A place of hiding; a secret place; a retreat frem observation. The cleft tree Offers its kind concealment to a few. Thomson.

To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat. His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace cover him round. Cowley.

A hole or retreat onto which an animal may creep, to escape notice or danger.

) steam from (the boiler to) a steam engine. (d) To intercept; as,, to cut off an enemy's retreat.

od; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; as, a decent fortune; a decent person. A decent retreat in the mutability of human affairs. Burke. -- De"cent*ly, adv. -- De"cent*ness, n.

Any snug or close retreat where one goes to be alone. [Colloq.]

off, esp. in racing, to get in front; to obtain the lead or increase it; to draw back, to retreat; to draw level, to move up even (with another); to come up to or overtake another; to draw off, to retire or retreat; to draw on, to advance; to draw up, to form in array; to draw near, nigh, or towards, to approach; to dr…

just degrees, and another rises insensibly." Addison. -- To fall back. (a) To recede or retreat; to give way. (b) To fail of performing a promise or purpose; not to fulfill. -- To fall back upon. (a) (Mil.) To retreat for safety to (a stronger position in the rear, as to a fort or a supporting body of troops). (b) T…