Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Reverse
1.
Turned backward; having a contrary or opposite direction; hence; opposite or contrary in kind;
“A vice reverse unto this.” as, the
. reverse
order or methodGower.
2.
Turned upside down; greatly disturbed.
[Obs.]
He found the sea diverse
With many a windy storm
With many a windy storm
reverse
. Gower.
3.
(Bot. & Zool.)
Reversed;
as, a
. reverse
shellReverse bearing
(Surv.)
, the bearing of a back station as observed from the station next in advance.
– Reverse curve
(Railways)
, a curve like the letter
– S
, formed of two curves bending in opposite directions. Reverse fire
(Mil.)
, a fire in the rear.
– Reverse operation
(Math.)
, an operation the steps of which are taken in a contrary order to that in which the same or similar steps are taken in another operation considered as direct; an operation in which that is sought which in another operation is given, and that given which in the other is sought; as, finding the length of a pendulum from its time of vibration is the reverse operation to finding the time of vibration from the length.
1.
That which appears or is presented when anything, as a lance, a line, a course of conduct, etc., is reverted or turned contrary to its natural direction.
He did so with the
reverse
of the lance. Sir W. Scott.
2.
That which is directly opposite or contrary to something else; a contrary; an opposite.
Chaucer.
And then mistook
reverse
of wrong for right. Pope.
To make everything the
reverse
of what they have seen, is quite as easy as to destroy. Burke.
3.
The act of reversing; complete change; reversal; hence, total change in circumstances or character; especially, a change from better to worse; misfortune; a check or defeat;
as, the enemy met with a
. reverse
The strange
I pitied you, now you may pity me.
reverse
of fate you see;I pitied you, now you may pity me.
Dryden.
By a
reverse
of fortune, Stephen becomes rich. Lamb.
4.
The back side;
as, the
. See reverse
of a drum or trench; the reverse
of a medal or coin, that is, the side opposite to the obverse
Obverse
. 5.
A thrust in fencing made with a backward turn of the hand; a backhanded stroke.
[Obs.]
Shak.
6.
(Surg.)
A turn or fold made in bandaging, by which the direction of the bandage is changed.
Re-verse′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Reversed
(rē̍-vẽrst′)
;p. pr. & vb. n.
Reversing
.] 1.
To turn back; to cause to face in a contrary direction; to cause to depart.
And that old dame said many an idle verse,
Out of her daughter’s heart fond fancies to
Out of her daughter’s heart fond fancies to
reverse
. Spenser.
2.
To cause to return; to recall.
[Obs.]
And to his fresh remembrance did
The ugly view of his deformed crimes.
reverse
The ugly view of his deformed crimes.
Spenser.
3.
To change totally; to alter to the opposite.
Reverse
the doom of death. Shakespeare
She
reversed
the conduct of the celebrated vicar of Bray. Sir W. Scott.
4.
To turn upside down; to invert.
A pyramid
reversed
may stand upon his point if balanced by admirable skill. Sir W. Temple.
5.
Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.
These can divide, and these
reverse
, the state. Pope.
Custom . . .
reverses
even the distinctions of good and evil. Rogers.
6.
(Law)
To overthrow by a contrary decision; to make void; to under or annual for error;
as, to
. reverse
a judgment, sentence, or decreeReverse arms
(Mil.)
, a position of a soldier in which the piece passes between the right elbow and the body at an angle of 45°, and is held as in the illustration.
– To reverse an engine
or To reverse a machine
to cause it to perform its revolutions or action in the opposite direction.
Syn. – To overturn; overset; invert; overthrow; subvert; repeal; annul; revoke; undo.
Re-verse′
,Verb.
I.
1.
To return; to revert.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
2.
To become or be reversed.
Webster 1828 Edition
Reverse
REVERSE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To turn upside down; as, to reverse a pyramid or cone.2.
To overturn; to subvert; as, to reverse the state.3.
To turn back; as with swift wheel reverse.4.
To turn to the contrary; as, to reverse the scene.- Or affectations quite reverse the soul.
5.
To put each in the place of the other; as, to reverse the distinctions of good and evil.6.
In law, to overthrow by a contrary decision; to make void; to annul; as, to reverse a judgment, sentence or decree. Judgments are reversed by writs of error; and for certain causes, may be reversed without such writs.7.
To recall. [Not in use.]REVERSE
,Verb.
I.
REVERSE
,Noun.
1.
Change; vicissitude; a turn of affairs; in a good sense.By a strange reverse of things, Justinian's law, which for many ages was neglected, now obtains -
2.
Change for the worse; misfortune. By an unexpected reverse of circumstances, an affluent man is reduced to poverty.3.
A contrary; an opposite.The performances to which God has annexed the promises of eternity, are just the reverse of all the pursuits of sense.