retrenchment

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈtɹɛn(t)ʃm(ə)nt/ (General American) IPA(key): /ɹəˈtɹɛnt͡ʃm(ə)nt/, [ɹi-] Hyphenation: re‧trench‧ment === Etymology 1 === Probably partly from both of the following: Middle French retrenchement, retranchement (“removal of a portion from a larger whole; reduction of expenses”) (modern French retranchement (“deduction, subtraction”)), from retrancher, retranchier (“to get rid of, remove completely; to remove a portion from a larger whole; to reduce expenses; to deprive (oneself) of”) [and other forms] + -ment (suffix forming nouns usually of an action or a state resulting from an action). Retrancher and retranchier are derived from Old French re- (prefix meaning ‘again, once more’) + tranchier, trenchier (“to cut”) [and other forms] (modern French trancher (“to slice”)); the further etymology is uncertain, but one possibility is that the Old French words are from Latin truncāre, the present active infinitive of truncō (“to mutilate by cutting off pieces; to truncate”), from truncus (“tree trunk; piece cut off”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- (“to carve; to cut off, trim”). retrench (“to cut down, reduce; to reduce expenses; to make (an employee) redundant”) +‎ -ment. Retrench is derived from Middle French retrancher, retranchier: see above. ==== Noun ==== retrenchment (countable and uncountable, plural retrenchments) A curtailment or reduction. Synonyms: cutting down, diminution, lessening (specifically) An act of reducing expenses; economizing. Synonym: cutback (specifically) An act of terminating the employment of a worker or making an employee redundant, often to reduce expenses; a layoff. (by extension) Withdrawal. ===== Usage notes ===== Sense 1.2 (“act of terminating the employment of a worker”) is common in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa, but uncommon in Britain and the United States. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === Probably either from: Middle French retranchement (“defensive work”) (modern French retranchement (“entrenchment”)), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again, once more’) + tranche (“trench”) + -ment (suffix forming nouns usually of an action or a state resulting from an action); or retrench (“to construct one or more retrenchments; to protect using retrenchments; to fortify”) +‎ -ment. Retrench is probably derived from Middle French retrancher, retranchier (“to fortify with trenches and banks”), from Old French re- + tranchier, trenchier (“to cut”); see further at etymology 1. ==== Noun ==== retrenchment (plural retrenchments) (military, dated) A defensive work constructed within a fortification to make it more defensible by allowing defenders to retreat into and fight from it even after the enemy has taken the outer work. ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 3 === Internal formation from retrench (“take up a defensive position”) +‎ -ment, possibly reinforced by misinterpretation of Etymology 1. ==== Noun ==== retrenchment (countable and uncountable, plural retrenchments) (especially politics) The adoption of a defensive and hostile posture; refusal to compromise, radicalization. ===== Translations ===== === References === === Further reading === layoff on Wikipedia.Wikipedia retrenchment on Wikipedia.Wikipedia retrenchment (military) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia retrenchment (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia