Retire — Defs

01 v. t. To withdraw; to take away; -- sometimes used reflexively.

imp. & p. p. Retired; p. pr. & vb. n. Retiring

1.
To withdraw; to take away; -- sometimes used reflexively.
“He . . . retired himself, his wife, and children into a forest.” — Sir P. Sidney.

“As when the sun is present all the year, And never doth retire his golden ray.” — Sir J. Davies.
2.
To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay; as, to retire bonds; to retire a note.
3.
To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list; as, to retire a military or naval officer.

02 v. i. 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 t…

1.
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.” — Sir J. Davies.
2.
To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle.
“Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.” — 2 Sam. xi. 15.
3.
To withdraw from a public station, or from business; as, having made a large fortune, he retired.
“And from Britannia's public posts retire.” — Addison.
4.
To recede; to fall or bend back; as, the shore of the sea retires in bays and gulfs.
5.
To go to bed; as, he usually retires early.

Syn. To withdraw; leave; depart; secede; recede; retreat; retrocede.

03 n. The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires.

1.
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.
2.
A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.(Mil.)