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Retort vs Request - What's the difference?

retort | request |

As nouns the difference between retort and request

is that retort is a sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator; a comeback while request is act of requesting.

As verbs the difference between retort and request

is that retort is to say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation while request is to express the need or desire for.

retort

English

(wikipedia retort)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) retortus, from .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator; a comeback.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1905, author=
  • , title= , chapter=1 citation , passage=“It is a pity,” he retorted with aggravating meekness, “that they do not use a little common sense. The case resembles that of Columbus' ?egg, and is every bit as simple. […]”}}
  • To make a remark which reverses an argument upon its originator; to return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility.
  • to retort the charge of vanity
  • * Milton
  • And with retorted scorn his back he turned.
  • To bend or curve back.
  • a retorted line
  • * Southey
  • With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated.
  • To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.
  • * Shakespeare
  • As when his virtues, shining upon others, / Heat them and they retort that heat again / To the first giver.
    Synonyms
    * (sharp reply) comeback, rejoinder, back answer

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) retorte.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (chemistry) A flask with a rounded base and a long neck that is bent down and tapered, used to heat a liquid for distillation.
  • :* 1893', A large curved ' retort was boiling furiously in the bluish flame of a Bunsen burner, and the distilled drops were condensing into a two-litre measure. — Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘The Naval Treaty’ (Norton 2005, p.670)
  • A container in which material is subjected to high temperatures]] as part of an industrial manufacturing process, especially during the smelting and [[forge, forging of metal.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To heat in a retort.
  • request

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Act of (l).
  • * Shakespeare
  • I will marry her, sir, at your request .
  • A formal (l) requesting something.
  • of being sought after.
  • * Sir W. Temple
  • Knowledge and fame were in as great request as wealth among us now.
  • (obsolete) That which is asked for or requested.
  • * Bible, Psalms cvi. 15
  • He gave them their request .

    Synonyms

    * (act of requesting) asking, beseech, prayer, wish * (formal message requesting something) petition, postulation * (state of being sought after) demand

    Derived terms

    * discovery request * request for admission * request for production

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to express the need or desire for
  • to ask somebody to do something
  • Synonyms

    * (to express the need or desire for ): indicate, pray, wish * (to ask somebody to do something ): ask, bespeak, call for

    See also

    * * (wikipedia "request")

    Anagrams

    *