resile

(rĭ-zīl')
intr.v., -siled, -sil·ing, -siles.

1. To spring back, especially to resume a former position or structure after being stretched or compressed.
2. To draw back; recoil.

[Obsolete French resilir, from Latin resilīre, to leap back : re-, re- + salīre, to leap.]

(ri-ZYL)

verb intr.
1. To rebound or recoil.
2. To shrink, withdraw, or retreat.

Etymology
From obsolete French resilir, from Latin resilire (to spring back).

Usage
"Once there is such a respite, they could engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Andolan* on how both sides could resile from their hardened positions and strike a compromise." — Darryl D'Monte, Storm in Narmada Valley, The Independent (Bangladesh), Aug 6, 1999. [* From Hindi Andolan (agitation, protest).]

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British Prime Minister Tony Blair may be resilient, but in this case he refused to resile (draw back):

"Mr Blair said he did not 'resile' from the praise he had previously showered on Mr Brown, including the comment that he would make a brilliant prime minister."

Link: Guardian Unlimited Politics | Special Reports | Blair sidesteps big question and admits the party went Awol

Posted September 26, 2006.

See our Word Overheard blog to see interesting uses of strange words.

to recoil, retract; esp: to return to a prior position

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has 4 meanings:

Meaning #1: draw back from an agreement, contract, statement, etc.

Meaning #2: spring back; spring away from an impact
  Synonyms: bounce, take a hop, spring, bound, rebound, recoil, reverberate, ricochet

Meaning #3: formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
  Synonyms: abjure, recant, forswear, retract

Meaning #4: return to the original position or state after being stretched or compressed, as of elastic bodies

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