What is "retreat"

Retreat \Re*treat"\, n. [F. retraite, fr. retraire to withdraw, L. retrahere; pref. re- re- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Retract, Retrace.]

1. The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable.

   In a retreat he o?truns any lackey.
   --Shak.

2. The place to which anyone retires; a place or privacy or safety; a refuge; an asylum.

   He built his son a house of pleasure, and spared no cost to make a delicious retreat.
   --L'Estrange.

   That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat.
   --Dryden.

3. (Mil. & Naval.)

   1. The retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy, or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position.

   2. The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy for the purpose of avoiding an engagement or escaping after defeat.

   3. A signal given in the army or navy, by the beat of a drum or the sounding of trumpet or bugle, at sunset (when the roll is called), or for retiring from action.

      Note: A retreat is properly an orderly march, in which circumstance it differs from a flight.

4. (Eccl.)

   1. A special season of solitude and silence to engage in religious exercises.

   2. A period of several days of withdrawal from society to a religious house for exclusive occupation in the duties of devotion; as, to appoint or observe a retreat.

      Syn: Retirement; departure; withdrawment; seclusion; solitude; privacy; asylum; shelter; refuge.

Retreat \Re*treat"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Retreated; p. pr. & vb. n. Retreating.] To make a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field.

The rapid currents drive Towards the retreating sea their furious tide.
--Milton.

c.1300, "a step backward;" late 14c., "act of retiring or withdrawing; military signal for retiring from action or exercise," from Old French retret, noun use of past participle of retrere "draw back," from Latin retrahere "draw back, withdraw, call back," from re- "back" (see re-) + trahere "to draw" (see tract (n.1)). Meaning "place of seclusion" is from early 15c.; sense of "establishment for mentally ill persons" is from 1797. Meaning "period of retirement for religious self-examination" is from 1756.

early 15c., "to draw in, draw back, leave the extremities," from retreat (n.) and in part from Old French retret, past participle of retrere. Meaning "to fall back from battle" is mid-15c. Related: Retreated; retreating.

n. 1 The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant. 2 The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position. 3 A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security. 4 A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude. 5 A period of meditation, prayer or study. 6 Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack. 7 A signal for a military withdrawal. 8 A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base. 9 A military ceremony to lower the flag. 10 (context chess English) The move of a piece from a threatened position. vb. To withdraw military forces.

1. n. (military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat; "the disorderly retreat of French troops"

2. a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet

3. (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position

4. (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset

5. an area where you can be alone [syn: hideaway]

6. withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation; "a religious retreat" [syn: retirement]

7. v. pull back or move away or backward; "The enemy withdrew"; "The limo pulled away from the curb" [syn: withdraw, pull away, draw back, recede, pull back, retire, move back]

8. move away, as for privacy; "The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer"

9. move back; "The glacier retrogrades" [syn: retrograde]

10. make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity; "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"; "He backed out of his earlier promise"; "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns" [syn: pull back, back out, back away, crawfish, crawfish out, pull in one's horns, withdraw]

Retreat or re-treat may refer to:

• Retreat (bugle call), a military signal for the end of day, known as "Sunset" in some countries
• Retreat (military), a withdrawal of military forces
• Retreat (spiritual), a time taken to reflect or meditate
• Retreat (survivalism), a place of refuge for survivalists

"Retreat (Cries My Heart)" is a popular song, written by Nancy Farnsworth, Tommy Furtado, and Anita Boyer in 1952.

The most popular version was recorded by Patti Page in the same year.

Category:1952 songs

A retreat is a place of refuge for those in the survivalist subculture or movement. A retreat is also sometimes called a bug-out location (BOL). Survivalist retreats are intended to be self-sufficient and easily defended, and are generally located in sparsely populated rural areas.

The meaning of a spiritual retreat can be different for different religious communities. Spiritual retreats are an integral part of many Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Sufi (Islamic) communities.

In Hinduism and Buddhism, meditative retreats are seen by some as an intimate way of deepening powers of concentration and insight.

Retreats are also popular in Christian churches, and were established in today's form by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), in his Spiritual Exercises. Ignatius was later to be made patron saint of spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922. Many Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox Christians partake in and organize spiritual retreats each year.

Meditative retreats are an important practice in Sufism, the mystical path of Islam. The Sufi teacher Ibn Arabi's book Journey to the Lord of Power (Risālat al-Anwār) is a guide to the inner journey that was published over 700 years ago.

Retreat is a historic home located at Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland, United States. It is a one story, clapboard-sheathed, frame house with a double chimney. The principal part of the house was built about 1770. Also located on the property is a frame, pyramid-roofed meathouse, dating from the early 19th century, and moved here from another historic property in the county known as "Brentland" in 1953. The home, approached by a private gravel road, is surrounded by cultivated fields, meadows, and woodland, preserving its original agricultural and rural setting. The house is one of the earliest known examples of the side-passage, two-room dwelling in Charles County. It is associated with Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer and Daniel Jenifer.

Retreat was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

"Retreat" is the sixth story arc of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series of comic books, based upon the television series of the same name, and is written by television screenwriter Jane Espenson. The story returns the action to the central plot of vampire Slayer Buffy Summers and her friends in the fight against the masked person Twilight, alongside his followers Amy Madison and Warren Mears. This story arc features the character of Oz, a werewolf who is Buffy's schoolfriend and Willow Rosenberg's ex-boyfriend, who last appeared canonically in the television series' fourth season.

Retreat is an 2011 British horror- thriller film and the directorial debut of former film editor Carl Tibbets. The film stars Cillian Murphy, Jamie Bell, and Thandie Newton as three people isolated from the rest of the world on a remote island, who are told they are survivors of a fatal airborne disease that is sweeping over the entire world. However, their induced isolation may be the result of a lie, and it may be that they are being held at the whim of a madman. The film has had mainly positive reviews.