I.to drive back, to turn back, etc. (post - Aug.; esp. freq. in Quint.).
I. Lit.: “capillos a fronte contra naturam,” to push back, Quint. 11, 3, 160: “vasta flumina,” Mel. 3, 1, 1.—
II. Trop.: “honores,” Plin. 7, 44, 45, § 145: rursus litteras (opp. recto contextu), to go through or repeat backwards, Quint. 1, 1, 25: “ordinem,” to reverse, id. 12, 2, 10: “expositionem,” id. 2, 4, 15: “iram,” to turn aside, Sen. Ira, 1, 16, 10: “huic (dactylo) temporibus parem sed retroactum, appellari constat anapaeston,” reversed, inverted, Quint. 9, 4, 81.