Etymology
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ret (v.)

"to soak stems of fibrous plants (flax, hemp, jute, etc.) to soften them," mid-15c., probably from Middle Dutch roten (or an unrecorded cognate Old Norse word that is related to Norwegian røyta, Swedish röta, Danish røde); the group is considered to be related to Old English rotian "to rot" (see rot (v.)), but the vowel is difficult. The process partially rots the stems so the workers may better get the fibers.

Entries linking to ret

rot (v.)

Middle English roten, from Old English rotian, of animal substances, "to decay, putrefy, undergo natural decomposition" (intransitive), also of vegetable matter," from Proto-Germanic *rutjan (source also of Old Saxon roton, Old Norse rotna, Old Frisian rotia, Middle Dutch roten, Dutch rotten, Old High German rozzen "to rot," German rößen "to steep flax"), from stem *rut-. Related: Rotted; rotting.

By c. 1200 as "fester or decay morally, become morally corrupt." Transitive sense of "cause decomposition in" is from late 14c. To rot in prison (mid-14c.) suggests wasting disease.

updated on July 25, 2021

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Definitions of ret from WordNet

ret (v.)
place (flax, hemp, or jute) in liquid so as to promote loosening of the fibers from the woody tissue;
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near ret

resurrect

resurrection

resurvey

resuscitate

resuscitation

ret

retail

retailer

retailing

retain

retainer

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