Part 147

Re"flex (r?"fl?ks; formerly r?*fl?ks"), n. [L. reflexus a bending back. See Reflect.] 1. Reflection; the light reflected from an illuminated surface to one in shade.

Yon gray is not the morning's eye, 'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow.

Shak.

On the depths of death there swims The reflex of a human face.

Tennyson.

2. (Physiol.) An involuntary movement produced by reflex action.

Patellar reflex. See Knee jerk, under Knee.

Re*flex" (r?*fl?ks"), v. t. [L. reflexus, p. p. of reflectere. See Reflect.] 1. To reflect. [Obs.] Shak.

2. To bend back; to turn back. J. Gregory.

Re*flexed" (r?*fl?kst"), a. Bent backward or outward.

Re*flex`i*bil"i*ty (r?*fl?ks`?*b?l"?*t?), n. [Cf. F. réflexibilité.] The quality or capability of being reflexible; as, the reflexibility of the rays of light. Sir I. Newton.

Re*flex"i*ble (r?*fl?ks"?*b'l), a. [CF. F. réflexible.] Capable of being reflected, or thrown back.

The light of the sun consists of rays differently refrangible and reflexible.

Cheyne.

Re*flex"ion (-fl?k"sh?n), n. See Reflection. Chaucer.

Re*flex"i*ty (r?*fl?ks"?*t?), n. The state or condition of being reflected. [R.]

Re*flex"ive (-?v), a. 1. [Cf. F. réflexif.] Bending or turned backward; reflective; having respect to something past.

Assurance reflexive can not be a divine faith.

Hammond.

2. Implying censure. [Obs.] "What man does not resent an ugly reflexive word?" South.

3. (Gram.) Having for its direct object a pronoun which refers to the agent or subject as its antecedent; -- said of certain verbs; as, the witness perjured himself; I bethought myself. Applied also to pronouns of this class; reciprocal; reflective.

-- Re*flex"ive*ly, adv. -- Re*flex"ive*ness, n.

Re*flex"ly, adv. In a reflex manner; reflectively.

Re"float (r?"fl?t), n. Reflux; ebb. [Obs.] Bacon.

Re`flo*res"cence (r?`fl?*r?s"sens), n. (Bot.) A blossoming anew of a plant after it has apparently ceased blossoming for the season.

Re*flour"ish (r?*fl?r"?sh), v. t. & i. To flourish again.

Re*flow" (r?*fl?"), v. i. To flow back; to ebb.

Re*flow"er (r*flou"r), v. i. & t. To flower, or cause to flower, again. Sylvester.