retrorseadj.
/rᵻˈtrɔːs/, U.S. /rəˈtrɔrs/ Chiefly Zoology and Botany.
Turned or pointing backwards, or in a direction opposed to that expected; = reverted adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > physical arrangement or condition > [adjective] > turned inwards, upwards, backwards, etc.
reflexeda1500
resupinated1661
nutant1751
nodding1776
resupinate1776
reversed1777
deflex1791
retrorse1818
deflexed1826
deflected1828
fornicate1828
invaginated1835
antrorse1838
invertile1853
posterial1866
retrorsal1870
invaginate1887
invaginable1888
1818 T. Nuttall Genera N. Amer. Plants II. 69 Leaves every where covered with white, short, retrorse, strigose and appressed hairs.
1872 E. Coues Key to N. Amer. Birds 29 Bristles or feathers thus growing forwards are called retrorse.
1936 Trans. Amer. Microsc. Soc. 55 393 We find that the annules of Criconema are more or less retrorse and tend to be sharp on the posterior edge.
2007 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) May 281/1 The fish..wriggles into bodily orifices, throws out retrorse spines, and can be removed only through surgery.
Derivatives
reˈtrorsely adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > physical arrangement or condition > [adverb] > so as to be turned backwards
retrorsely1818
1818 W. P. C. Barton Compendium Floræ Philadelphicæ I. 101 Seeds retrorsely aculeate.
1882 Jrnl. Bot., Brit. & Foreign 20 46 Another unnamed species was gathered by Dr. Lyall long ago in Central Madagascar, with retrorsely hispid branchlets.
1919 Jrnl. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 27 89 Saurocoris... Scutellum with a single straight, sharp, slender, retrorsely inclined spine.
2000 Internat. Jrnl. Plant Sci. 161 870/2 Both Fuertesia and Cevallia have long pointed trichomes with lateral barbs (most of which curve retrorsely).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1818