Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Retire

Retire , transitive verb

[French retirer; pref. re- re- + tirer to draw. See Tirade.]

1.
To withdraw; to take away; -- sometimes used reflexively.
He... retired himself, his wife, and children into a forest. — Sir P. Sidney
As when the sun is present all the year, And never doth retire his golden ray. — Sir J. Davies
2.
To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay; as, to retire bonds; to retire a note.
3.
To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list; as, to retire a military or naval officer.

Retire , intransitive verb

1.
To go back or return; to draw back or away; to keep aloof; to withdraw or retreat, as from observation; to go into privacy; as, to retire to his home; to retire from the world, or from notice.
To Una back he cast him to retire. — Spenser
The mind contracts herself, and shrinketh in, And to herself she gladly doth retire. — Sir J. Davies
2.
To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle.
Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. — 2 Sam. xi. 15
3.
To withdraw from a public station, or from business; as, having made a large fortune, he retired.
And from Britannia's public posts retire. — Addison
4.
To recede; to fall or bend back; as, the shore of the sea retires in bays and gulfs.
5.
To go to bed; as, he usually retires early.

Retire , noun

1.
The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires. [Obsolete]
The battle and the retire of the English succors. — Bacon
[Eve] discover'd soon the place of her retire. — Milton
2.
(Military) A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.