Noah Webster
Retort
RETORT', verb transitive [Latin retortus, retorqueo; re and torqueo, to throw.]
1. To throw back; to reverberate.
And they retort that beat again to the first giver.
2. To return an argument, accusation, censure or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity.
He pass'd through hostile scorn; and with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd.
3. To bend or curve back; as a retorted line.
RETORT', verb intransitive To return an argument or charge; to make a severe reply. He retorted upon his adversary with severity.
RETORT', noun
1. The return of an argument, charge or incivility in reply; as the retort courteous.
2. In chimistry, a spherical vessel with its neck bent, to which the receiver is fitted; used in distillation.