Retrench, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retrenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Retrenching.]
Etymology: [OF. retrenchier, F. retrancher; pref. re- re- + OF. trenchier, F. trancher, to cut. See Trench.]
1. To cut off; to pare away. Thy exuberant parts retrench. Denham.
2. To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench superfluities or expenses. But this thy glory shall be soon retrenched. Milton.
3. To confine; to limit; to restrict. Addison. These figures, ought they then to receive a retrenched interpretation I. Taylor.
4. (Fort.)
2 more senses
To furnish with a retrenchment; as, to retrench bastions.
Syn. -- To lesen; diminish; curtail; abridge.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Retrench, v. i.
To cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down living expenses; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists retrench only as an antonym, under amplify.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.