All 3 Uses of
retort
in
Ethan Frome
- When she spoke it was only to complain, and to complain of things not in his power to remedy; and to check a tendency to impatient retort he had first formed the habit of not answering her, and finally of thinking of other things while she talked.†
Chpt 4
- "Not a bit," Ethan's pride retorted before his reason had time to intervene.†
Chpt 4 *
- His wife's retort was like a knife-cut across the sinews and he felt suddenly weak and powerless.†
Chpt 7
Definition:
-
(retort as in: quick retort) a quick reply to a question or remark -- especially a witty or critical one