The Only Use of
retort
in
Romeo and Juliet
- —All this,—uttered
With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd,—Could not take truce with the unruly spleen
Of Tybalt, deaf to peace, but that he tilts
With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast;
Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point,
And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
Cold death aside, and with the other sends
It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity
Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud,
'Hold, friends!†p. 132.7retorts = replies quickly
Definition:
a quick reply to a question or remark -- especially a witty or critical one