withtract

English

Etymology

Origin uncertain. In one sense, probably a blend of withdraw +‎ retract; in another sense, possibly a blend of withcall (“to call away, divert”) +‎ distract.

Verb

withtract (third-person singular simple present withtracts, present participle withtracting, simple past and past participle withtracted)

  1. (ambitransitive, rare, possibly nonstandard) To withdraw, retract.
    • 1861, Francis A. H. Terrell, Anne Boleyn, page 93:
      Did he withtract his words?
    • 1953, Don Douglas, Just Off Broadway, page 30:
      Okay. I withtract the statement - you could've got that dumb in twenty years.
    • 1998, Scott Symons, ‎Christopher Elson, Dear Reader, page 98:
      I withtract instantly, close the ironclad, close ... but I have been penetrated and cannot and look back up again along the same trajectory of sight and am imbedded again in those eyes on me […]
    • 2024, Isla Olsen, Love & Luck:
      HE TOLD YOU??? What happened to the sacred bond of bro-hood?? NOT COOL, MAN!! I withtract my support!
  2. (transitive, rare, possibly nonstandard) To distract.
    • 1831, Mary Martha Sherwood, The Lady of the Manor:
      […] that the glorious influences of the Spirit were never withtracted by the various beautiful flowers which appeared on every bank and in every brake, she plucked them in large quantities, and filled her basket.
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