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Countermand vs Retract - What's the difference?

countermand | retract |

As verbs the difference between countermand and retract

is that countermand is to revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given while retract is to pull back inside.

As a noun countermand

is an order to the contrary of a previous one.

countermand

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given.
  • to countermand an order for goods
  • To recall a person or unit with such an order.
  • To prohibit; to forbid.
  • * Harvey
  • Avicen countermands letting blood in choleric bodles.
  • To oppose; to revoke the command of.
  • * Hooker
  • For us to alter anything, is to lift ourselves against God; and, as it were, to countermand him.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An order to the contrary of a previous one.
  • retract

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To pull back inside.
  • An airplane retracts its wheels for flight.
  • (ambitransitive) To draw back; to draw up.
  • Muscles retract after amputation.
    A cat can retract its claws.
  • To take back or withdraw something one has said.
  • I retract all the accusations I made about the senator and sincerely hope he won't sue me.
  • * Bishop Stillingfleet
  • I would as freely have retracted this charge of idolatry as I ever made it.
  • * Granville
  • She will, and she will not; she grants, denies, / Consents, retracts , advances, and then flies.
  • To take back, as a grant or favour previously bestowed; to revoke.
  • (Woodward)

    Synonyms

    * take back * withcall * withdraw

    See also

    * unsay * unspeak