Re‐trench″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Retrenched (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Retrenching.] [OF. retrenchier, F. retrancher; pref. re- re- + OF. trenchier, F. trancher, to cut. See Trench.] 1. To cut off; to pare away.
Thy exuberant parts retrench. Denham.
2. To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench superfluities or expenses.
But this thy glory shall be soon retrenched. Milton.
3. To confine; to limit; to restrict. Addison.
These figures, ought they then to receive a retrenched interpretation? I. Taylor.
4. (Fort.) To furnish with a retrenchment; as, to retrench bastions.
Syn. — To lesen; diminish; curtail; abridge.