Etymology Recorded in Middle English c. 1410 as retreve (altered to retrive in the 16th century; modern form is from c. 1650), from Middle French retruev-, stem of Old French retrover (“to find again”, modern retrouver), itself from re- (“again”) + trover (“to find”), probably from Vulgar Latin *tropāre (“to compose”).
to retrieve one's character or independence; to retrieve a thrown ball
With late repentance now they would retrieve / The bodies they forsook, and wish to live.1697, Virgil, “The Sixth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
2
To rescue (a creature).
3
To salvage something
4
To remedy or rectify something.
5
To remember or recall something.
6
To fetch or carry back something, especially (computing) a file or data record.
to retrieve them from their cold, trivial conceits1714, Rev. Dean Berkeley, letter to Alexander Pope, May 1, 1714:
7
To fetch and bring in game.
The cook doesn't care what's shot, only what's actually retrieved.
8
To fetch and bring in game systematically.
Dog breeds called 'retrievers' were selected for retrieving.
9
To fetch or carry back systematically, notably as a game.
Most dogs love retrieving, regardless of what object is thrown.
10
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To make a difficult but successful return of the ball.
11
Obsolete To remedy the evil consequence of, to repair (a loss or damage).
Accept my sorrow, and retrieve my fall.1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Solomon on the Vanity of the World. A Poem in Three Books.”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
There is much to be done […] and much to be retrieved.1795–1797, Edmund Burke, “(please specify |letter=1 to 4)”, in [Letters on a Regicide Peace], London: [Rivington]:
Etymology Recorded in Middle English c. 1410 as retreve (altered to retrive in the 16th century; modern form is from c. 1650), from Middle French retruev-, stem of Old French retrover (“to find again”, modern retrouver), itself from re- (“again”) + trover (“to find”), probably from Vulgar Latin *tropāre (“to compose”).
1
A retrieval.
Secondly, the number of retrieves given in any one session is restricted according to the dog's level of interest. If he is not madly keen he has perhaps two or three retrieves in a session, and on some days he will have none at all.2013, Margaret Allen, In the Bag!: Labrador Training from Puppy to Gundog:
2
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports The return of a difficult ball.
we'll bring Wax to the retrieve1625 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Staple of Newes. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot […], published 1631, →OCLC, (please specify the page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):