retort 英 [rɪˈtɔːt] 美 [rɪˈtɔːrt]
考研 CET6 SAT TEM8 GRE
名著用例
She was about to retort but something checked the words on her tongue.
她刚要抢白两句,可是话到嘴边又咽了回去。
出自爱尔兰现代主义作家詹姆斯·乔伊斯(James Joyce)于1922年出版的长篇小说《尤利西斯》(Ulysses)。《尤利西斯》作为意识流小说的代表作,被誉为20世纪百大英文小说之首,并被奉为20世纪最伟大的小说。
基本释义
[verb] say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manner
[动词] 以尖锐、愤怒或机智的方式回应某个言辞
深入解读
Retort 一词源自拉丁语 retorquere (返回、扭回、扔回),由前缀 re (回、向后)+ 词根 tort (扭曲,作单词时指“侵权行为”)构成,16世纪中期进入英语时原指“(受伤后)以同样的方式回击”,比如以羞辱对付羞辱(retort insult for insult)。
不过这个含义发展到今天则主要表示“(生气或幽默地)反驳、回嘴”,既可以作动词也可以作名词使用,多用于形容对不同意见、批评或控诉作出迅速、有力或机智的回答,比如:
- 那个衣冠楚楚、野心勃勃的政客以反问答问。
The sleek and ambitious politician retorted a question by another question. - 我顶了他几句。
I said a few words to him in retort.
另外值得注意的是, retort 同小站之前推过的 fret, peer, loom, faction, swallow, staple 等一样也是个同形异义词,还有一个词源不同的含义是作名词表示“曲颈甑、曲颈瓶”。
外刊例句
- The common retort to such concerns is that humans are far more cognitively adaptable than beasts of burden.
对这类担忧最常见的反驳是人类在认知上的适应性要比役畜强得多。
——《经济学人》 - Mr. Stephens said that many have advised him that he’s missing out by not going to college, where, the rationale goes, he could be meeting women and drinking beer. His retort: “I like guys and Champagne.”
斯蒂芬说,有不少人都对他说从大学辍学会让他失去不少机会,他原本可以借读大学之机认识女生、大喝啤酒,他对此反唇相讥:“我更喜欢男生和香槟。”
——《纽约时报》
常见短语
“retort” 是一个英语单词,通常表示反驳、回应等概念。
以下是50个包含单词“retort”的短语,以及它们的中文解释:
- Quick retort: 迅速反驳
- Sharp retort: 尖锐回应
- Witty retort: 机智回应
- retort with humor: 用幽默回应
- retort in anger: 愤怒回应
- retort with sarcasm: 用讽刺回应
- retort with confidence: 自信地回应
- retort with a smile: 微笑回应
- retort in frustration: 沮丧回应
- retort under pressure: 在压力下回应
- retort with elegance: 优雅回应
- retort with intelligence: 用智慧回应
- retort with clarity: 清晰回应
- retort in defense: 辩护回应
- retort with passion: 激情回应
- retort with logic: 逻辑回应
- retort with grace: 优雅回应
- retort with wisdom: 以智慧回应
- retort in disbelief: 不信回应
- retort with kindness: 用善意回应
- retort with dignity: 庄重回应
- retort in annoyance: 恼怒回应
- retort with patience: 耐心回应
- retort in disagreement: 不同意回应
- retort with understanding: 用理解回应
- retort with wit: 用机智回应
- retort in surprise: 惊讶回应
- retort with authority: 以权威回应
- retort in amusement: 娱乐回应
- retort with diplomacy: 用外交手段回应
- retort in shock: 吃惊回应
- retort with precision: 精确回应
- retort in agreement: 同意回应
- retort with compassion: 以同情回应
- retort in a calm tone: 以平静的语调回应
- retort with expertise: 用专业知识回应
- retort in a firm voice: 以坚定的声音回应
- retort with respect: 以尊重回应
- retort in a humorous way: 以幽默方式回应
- retort with creativity: 用创造力回应
- retort in a direct manner: 以直接方式回应
- retort with eloquence: 用雄辩回应
- retort in a casual tone: 以随意的语调回应
- retort with empathy: 以共鸣回应
- retort in a serious manner: 以认真方式回应
- retort with authenticity: 用真实性回应
- retort in a friendly way: 以友好的方式回应
- retort with determination: 以决心回应
- retort in a composed manner: 以沉着的方式回应
- retort with integrity: 以正直回应
同近义词
rejoin: return to (a companion, organization, or route that one has left)
riposte: make a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism
return: feel, say, or do (the same feeling, action, etc.) in response