The word "Retraict" is spelled with the "ei" combination making the long vowel sound "ay" (/reɪ/). This is because "ei" is a common spelling pattern for this sound. The word itself means "withdrawal" or "retraction" and is taken from the French language. When using phonetic transcription, the word would be spelled as /rɪˈtreɪkt/ with emphasis on the second syllable. It is important to be mindful of spelling patterns and pronunciation when encountering unfamiliar words or borrowed words from other languages.
The word "retrait" has its origins in Old French. It is derived from the verb "retraire", meaning "to draw back" or "to pull back". The Old French term "retraire" itself can be broken down into two parts: "re-" (a prefix indicating repetition or reversal) and "traire" (meaning "to draw" or "to pull"). Over time, "retrait" evolved in French to mean "retreat" or "withdrawal". The word eventually made its way into English, retaining its basic meaning of withdrawing or pulling back from a previous position.