Definition of retch

retchverb

nôn ói

/retʃ//retʃ/

The word "retch" originated in the Old English language, where it was spelled as "rascian" or "rescian". Its Old English meaning was "to tear, to rend". The Old English verb "rascian" came from the Germanic languages' root "raxs-", which meant "rough, jagged". Over time, the meaning and spelling of the word began to change. In Middle English, the term was spelled as "rasten" and "resten", and its primary meaning had shifted to describe the act of vomiting. The Middle English verb "rasten" came from the Old French word "restreindre", which meant "to wind, to twist". In Modern English, the word "retch" still describes the act of vomiting, with the spelling having been further simplified. Despite the change in pronunciation and meaning, the root "raxs-" from Old English can still be seen in the word, as the "ch" sound is a combination of the letter "x" and the letter "h" from Old English. In summary, "retch" evolved from its Old English origin as "rascian", a rough or jagged tearing, to its current meaning as a violent act of expelling contents from the stomach caused by nausea. This linguistic evolution highlights the fluid and dynamic nature of language, where words can take on new meanings and forms over time.

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Example:
  • After eating spoiled food, James couldn't help but retch repeatedly.

    Sau khi ăn đồ ăn hỏng, James không thể không nôn liên tục.

  • The vomit-inducing stench in the hospital room caused John to retch uncontrollably.

    Mùi hôi thối khó chịu trong phòng bệnh khiến John nôn ói không ngừng.

  • The sight of the mutilated corpse made Sarah gag and retch.

    Cảnh tượng xác chết bị cắt xẻo khiến Sarah buồn nôn và nôn ọe.

  • The pregnant woman retched as the nausea hit her hard in the early hours of the morning.

    Người phụ nữ mang thai nôn ọe khi cơn buồn nôn ập đến dữ dội vào sáng sớm.

  • The medical treatment left a bad taste in David's mouth, causing him to retch and spit.

    Phương pháp điều trị y tế để lại mùi vị khó chịu trong miệng David, khiến anh ấy nôn ọe và khạc nhổ.

  • The strong medicine given to the child made her retch and cry in pain.

    Loại thuốc mạnh được cho uống khiến đứa trẻ nôn ọe và khóc vì đau đớn.

  • Seeing the blood stains on the carpet made Adam feel queasy and retch.

    Nhìn thấy vết máu trên thảm khiến Adam cảm thấy buồn nôn và nôn ọe.

  • The motion sickness pills didn't work, and Rachel retched violently throughout the entire trip.

    Thuốc chống say tàu xe không có tác dụng, và Rachel nôn dữ dội suốt chuyến đi.

  • The toxic fumes in the laboratory made Max retch and cough uncontrollably.

    Khí độc trong phòng thí nghiệm khiến Max buồn nôn và ho không kiểm soát được.

  • The sudden change in temperature caused Emma to retch and feel sick.

    Sự thay đổi nhiệt độ đột ngột khiến Emma buồn nôn và cảm thấy khó chịu.

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