I.to twist or bend back; to turn or cast back (class.; cf. reflecto).
I. Lit.: “caput in sua terga (anguis),” Ov. M. 3, 68: “ora,” id. ib. 4, 715: “ora ad os Phoebi,” id. ib. 11, 163: oculos saepe ad hanc urbem, * Cic. Cat. 2, 1, 2: “oculos,” Ov. M. 10, 696: “omnium oculos in se,” Quint. Decl. 8, 8: “tergo bracchia,” Hor. C. 3, 5, 22; cf.: “manibus retortis,” id. Ep. 2, 1, 191: “cervices,” Plin. Pan. 34, 3: “ferocis equi colla,” Ov. H. 4, 79: “pantherae terga,” to wrap about, cast about, Verg. A. 8, 460: “amictum,” id. ib. 12, 400: “crinem,” to crisp, frizzle, Mart. 6, 39, 6: “litore violenter undas,” to drive back, repulse, Hor. C. 1, 2, 13: “Rhoetum unguibus leonis,” id. ib. 2, 19, 23: “vela ab Euboïcis aquis,” Ov. Tr. 1, 1, 84: “viam,” i. e. to return by the same way, Claud. Phaen. 27: “de bysso retorta,” Vulg. Exod. 26, 1: “missilia in hostem,” Curt. 6, 1, 15: “quod me retorsisti (a morte),” Quint. Decl. 17, 18. — Mid.: ubi paulatim retorqueri agmen ad dextram conspexerunt, to wheel around, * Caes. B. C. 1, 69, 3.—
II. Trop.: animum ad praeterita, to turn or cast back, Sen. Ben. 3, 3, 3: “scelus in auctorem,” Just. 34, 4, 2; cf.: “crimina in eum,” Dig. 38, 2, 14, § 6; and simply argumentum, to retort upon one's opponent, App. Flor. p. 360, 33: “mentem,” to alter, change, Verg. A. 12, 841.
