v. re·trenched, re·trench·ing, re·trench·es v.tr. 1. To reduce (expenses, for example); cut down. 2. Archaic To remove, delete, or omit. v.intr. To curtail expenses; economize. [Middle French retrencher, to remove, suppress, from Old French retrenchier : re-, re- + trenchier, to cut; see TRENCH.] re·trencher n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
intr.v. re·trenched, re·trench·ing, re·trench·es To reorganize in such a way as to consolidate one's strength in preparation for future efforts: "The ranching industry had retrenched and was well on its way to becoming the powerful lobby that it is today" (Deanne Stillman). [RE- + TRENCH, on the model of Middle French se retrancher, to retire or take a secure position behind entrenchments, reflexive of retrancher, to fortify (a position) with trenches : re-, re- + tranchée, trench (from Old French trenchiee, tranchee, from feminine of trenchie, past participle of trenchier, to cut; see TRENCH).] re·trencher n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.