retract

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
retract/rɪˈtrakt/

▶verb

• 1 draw or be drawn back or back in.

• 2 withdraw (a statement or accusation) as untrue or unjustified.

  ■ withdraw or go back on (an undertaking).

– derivatives
retractable adjective,
retraction noun,
retractive adjective.

– origin ME: from L. retract-, retrahere ‘draw back’; the senses ‘withdraw a statement’ and ‘go back on’ via OFr. from retractare ‘reconsider’.