Re*trench" , v. i. To cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down living expenses; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.
Re*trench" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retrenched (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Retrenching.]
[OF. retrenchier, F. retrancher; pref. re-
re- + OF. trenchier, F. trancher, to cut. See Trench.] 1. To cut off; to pare away.
Thy
exuberant parts retrench.
Denham.
2. To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench superfluities
or expenses.
But this thy
glory shall be soon
retrenched.
Milton. 3.
To confine; to limit; to restrict. Addison.
These figures, ought they then to receive a retrenched interpretation?
I. Taylor. 4. (Fort.) To furnish with a retrenchment; as, to retrench bastions.
Syn. -- To lesen; diminish; curtail; abridge.
Hear it pronounced