retrorse
|re-torse|
🇺🇸
/rɪˈtɔrs/
🇬🇧
/rɪˈtɔːs/
pointing/turned backward
Etymology
'retrorse' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'retrorsus', where 're-' meant 'back' and 'torsus' (from the past participle of 'torquere') meant 'twisted'.
'retrorse' comes from Latin 'retrorsus' (literally 'turned back'); it entered scientific/technical English from Late Latin/Neo-Latin usage and has been used in English chiefly in botanical and zoological descriptions.
Initially it meant 'turned back' in literal Latin usage, and over time this literal sense has been retained in English, especially in technical descriptions of plant and animal parts as 'pointing or bent backward.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
pointing or bent backward; directed toward the rear — often used in botany or zoology for hairs, spines, or other parts that curve or point back toward the base.
The seedpod was covered in retrorse hairs that clung to clothing.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/29 12:21