ret

v., ret·ted, ret·ting, rets.

v.tr.
To moisten or soak (flax, for example) in order to soften and separate the fibers by partial rotting.

v.intr.
To become so moistened or soaked.

[Middle English reten, probably from Middle Dutch reeten.]

(ret)

verb tr.
To soak or expose to moisture (flax, hemp, etc.) to remove fiber from softened wood.

Etymology
From Middle English reten, perhaps from Middle Dutch

Usage
"Deep in the city's culture memory is the experience of the linen trade. As Robert Johnstone writes, 'The fibres came to the hacklers retted, dried and scutched, like long, flaxen hair which would comb through metal brushes.'" — Tom Paulin; The Vernacular City; The Guardian (London, UK); Feb 23, 2002.

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On drawings, abbr. for “return.”

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n. a tobacco cigarette. (Collegiate.)  Give my buddy a ret, will you?

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Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - opbløde
v. intr. - blive ødelagt af fugt

Nederlands (Dutch)
weken (flax/hout), gepensioneerd

Français (French)
v. tr. - (Tex) assouplir/séparer (des fibres) par trempage ou humidification
v. intr. - (Tex) s'assouplir, (Tex) se séparer

Deutsch (German)
v. - verrotten, rötten

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - διαποτίζω, διαβρέχω, μουσκεύω
abbr. - απόστρατος, (τυπογρ.) δεύτερη/οπίσθια όψη φύλλου χαρτιού

Italiano (Italian)
macerare, pensionato

Português (Portuguese)
v. - macerar
abbr. - aposentado

Русский (Russian)
замачивать, продавать в розницу, умственно отсталый

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - enriar
v. intr. - enriar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - röta
abbr. - pensionerad, återlämnad

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
浸水使柔软, 受潮湿腐烂

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 浸水使柔軟
v. intr. - 受潮濕腐爛

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 물에 담그다, 습기에 쐬다, 습기에 썩다
v. intr. - 물에 담기어 부드럽게 되다, 누져서 썩게 하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 浸水する, 湿気で腐らせる, 湿気で腐る

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) ينقع بالماء (اختصار) مختصر : متقاعد‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮ריכך, השרה במים‬
v. intr. - ‮התקלקל מרטיבות‬

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