retreated

re·treat  (r-trt)

n.

1.

a. The act or process of withdrawing, especially from something hazardous, formidable, or unpleasant.

b. The process of going backward or receding from a position or condition gained.

2. A place affording peace, quiet, privacy, or security. See Synonyms at shelter.

3.

a. A period of seclusion, retirement, or solitude.

b. A period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, or study: a religious retreat.

4.

a. Withdrawal of a military force from a dangerous position or from an enemy attack.

b. The signal for such withdrawal.

c. A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.

d. The military ceremony of lowering the flag.

v. re·treat·ed, re·treat·ing, re·treats

v.intr.

1. To fall or draw back; withdraw or retire. See Synonyms at recede¹.

2. To slope backward.

v.tr. Games

To move (a chess piece) back.

---

[Middle English retret, from Old French retrait, retret, from past participle of retraire, retrere, to draw back, from Latin retrahere; see retract.]

---

re·treater n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

retreated - people who have retreated; "he had only contempt for the retreated" people - (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively; "old people"; "there were at least 200 people in the audience"