To reply quickly and sharply, especially in response to criticism or accusation. It implies a swift, often clever or cutting response that turns the argument back on the speaker.
From Latin 'retorquere,' combining 're-' (back) and 'torquere' (to twist). Originally meant 'to twist back' or 'to turn back upon,' developing the sense of turning an argument back against the person who made it.
Retort literally means 'to twist back' - the same root as 'torture' and 'torque'! This twisting metaphor perfectly captures what happens in a good retort: you take someone's words and twist them back at them. It's like verbal jujitsu, using the opponent's force against them!
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