rē̆-tracto (in many MSS. also written rē̆trecto), āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [retraho].
I To take hold of or handle again; to take in hand again , undertake anew , etc. (class.; esp. in the trop. sense).
A Lit. (mostly poet.): arma, Liv. 2, 30: ferrum, Verg. A. 7, 694; 10, 396: gladios, Petr. poët. 89, 61: vulnera, to feel again , Ov. Tr. 3, 11, 19; 4, 4, 41; cf.: manu sua vota (i. e. the image), id. M. 10, 288: pedamenta, to go over again , retouch , Col. 4, 26, 1: agrum, to look over again , examine again , id. 1, 4, 1: dextras in bella, Sil. 10, 257: noctem, id. 3, 216. — Poet.: Venerem, Lucr. 4, 1200.—
B Trop., of mental action, to reconsider , examine again , revise , etc. (syn. recognosco): qui omnia, quae ad cultum deorum pertinerent, diligenter retractarent et tamquam relegerent, sunt dicti religiosi, Cic. N. D. 2, 28, 72; cf.: fata domus (with relegere), Ov. M. 4, 569: locus orationis a me retractandus, Cic. Mur. 26, 54: augemus dolorem retractando, id. Att. 8, 9, 3: desueta verba, Ov. Tr. 5, 7, 63: secum deae memorata, id. M. 7, 714: vota, id. ib. 10, 370: gaudium, Plin. Ep. 7, 24, 8: leges retractavit, revised , Suet. Aug. 34: leges (librum), sed retractatum, Plin. Ep. 8, 21, 6: carmina diligentius, Suet. Gram. 2: Ceae munera neniae, Hor. C. 2, 1, 38.— Impers. pass. : posterā die retractatur, the negotiation is renewed , Tac. G. 22 fin. —
II To withdraw one’s self from an act; to draw back , refuse , decline , be reluctant (class.).
α Absol. : veniet tempus et quidem celeriter et sive retractabis sive properabis, Cic. Tusc. 1, 31, 76: Appius nunc vocari Icilium, nunc retractantem arripi jubet, Liv. 3, 49 Drak.; 3, 52; 37, 18; Sall. H. Fragm. 1, 19; Col. 2, 2, 26: aut quid jam, Turne, retractas, Verg. A. 12, 889.—
β With acc., to withdraw , retract any thing: nihil est quod dicta retractent Ignavi Aeneadae, Verg. A. 12, 11: largitiones factas ante aliquantum tempus retractari non oportet, Traj. ap. Plin. Ep. 10, 111 (112).— Transf., to detract from , disparage , = detrecto: retractandi levandique ejus operis gratiā, Gell. 14, 3, 4. — Hence, rē̆tractātus , a, um, P. a. (acc. to I. B.), revised , corrected : retractatius σύνταγμα, Cic. Att. 16, 3, 1.