D defs.my
Entry 5 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Retrench

/rēt-rĕnch'/ · Re·trench · IPA /ɹəˈtɹɛnt͡ʃ/
01 v. t. To cut off; to pare away.
imp. & p. p. Retrenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Retrenching
  1. 1.
    To cut off; to pare away.
    “Thy exuberant parts retrench.” Denham.
  2. 2.
    To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench superfluities or expenses.
    “But this thy glory shall be soon retrenched.” Milton.
  3. 3.
    To confine; to limit; to restrict.
    “These figures, ought they then to receive a retrenched interpretation?” I. Taylor.
  4. 4.
    To furnish with a retrenchment; as, to retrench bastions.(Fort.)
02 v. i. To cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down living expenses; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.
  1. 1.
    To cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down living expenses; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.