retortion

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: re=tor=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

retortion, n. [Cf. F. rétorsion. See Retort, v. t.].

•  Act of retorting or throwing back; reflection or turning back.  [1913 Webster]

  "It was, however, necessary to possess some single term expressive of this intellectual retortion."  [1913 Webster]
•  Retaliation.  Wharton.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

retortion, n.
1 the act or an instance of bending back; the condition of being bent back.
2 retaliation by a State on the subjects of another.

Etymology

RETORT(1), perh. after contortion