Hypertext Webster Gateway: "retraction"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Retraction \Re*trac"tion\, n. [Cf. F. r['e]traction, L.
retractio a drawing back, hesitation.]
1. The act of retracting, or drawing back; the state of being
retracted; as, the retraction of a cat's claws.

2. The act of withdrawing something advanced, stated,
claimed, or done; declaration of change of opinion;
recantation.

Other men's insatiable desire of revenge hath wholly
beguiled both church and state of the benefit of all
my either retractions or ?oncessions. --Eikon
Basilike.

3. (Physiol.)
(a) The act of retracting or shortening; as, the
retraction of a severed muscle; the retraction of a
sinew.
(b) The state or condition of a part when drawn back, or
towards the center of the body.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

retraction
n 1: a disavowal or taking back of a previous assertion [syn: {abjuration},
{recantation}]
2: the act of pulling or holding or drawing a part back; "the
retraction of the landing gear"; "retraction of the
foreskin"

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