Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Reflexive

Re-flex′ive

(-?v)
,
Adj.
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
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Reflexive

REFLEX'IVE

,
Adj.
Having respect to something past.
Assurance reflexive cannot be a divine faith.

Definition 2024


reflexive

reflexive

See also: réflexive

English

Adjective

reflexive (not comparable)

  1. (grammar) Referring back to the subject, or having an object equal to the subject.
  2. (set theory) Of a relation R on a set S, such that xRx for all members x of S (that is, the relation holds between any element of the set and itself).
    "Equals" is a reflexive relation.
  3. Of or resulting from a reflex.
    The electric shock elicited an automatic and reflexive response from him.
  4. (figuratively) Producing immediate response, spontaneous.
    a reflexive dislike

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

reflexive (plural reflexives)

  1. A reflexive pronoun.
  2. A reflexive verb.

Translations

See also


German

Adjective

reflexive

  1. inflected form of reflexiv

Latin

Adjective

reflexive

  1. vocative masculine singular of reflexivus

Adverb

reflexive (not comparable)

  1. reflexively