reflex

a. [ L. reflexus, p. p. of reflectere: cf. F. réflexe. See Reflect. ] 1. Directed back; attended by reflection; retroactive; introspective. [ 1913 Webster ]

The reflex act of the soul, or the turning of the intellectual eye inward upon its own actions. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Produced in reaction, in resistance, or in return. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Physiol.) Of, pertaining to, or produced by, stimulus or excitation without the necessary intervention of consciousness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reflex action (Physiol.), any action performed involuntarily in consequence of an impulse or impression transmitted along afferent nerves to a nerve center, from which it is reflected to an efferent nerve, and so calls into action certain muscles, organs, or cells. --
Reflex nerve (Physiol.), an excito-motory nerve. See Exito-motory. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. reflexus a bending back. See Reflect. ] 1. Reflection; the light reflected from an illuminated surface to one in shade. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yon gray is not the morning's eye,
'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the depths of death there swims
The reflex of a human face. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physiol.) An involuntary movement produced by reflex action. [ 1913 Webster ]

Patellar reflex. See Knee jerk, under Knee. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. reflexus, p. p. of reflectere. See Reflect. ] 1. To reflect. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bend back; to turn back. J. Gregory. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bent backward or outward. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. réflexibilité. ] The quality or capability of being reflexible; as, the reflexibility of the rays of light. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ CF. F. réflexible. ] Capable of being reflected, or thrown back. [ 1913 Webster ]

The light of the sun consists of rays differently refrangible and reflexible. Cheyne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Reflection. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or condition of being reflected. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. [ Cf. F. réflexif. ] Bending or turned backward; reflective; having respect to something past. [ 1913 Webster ]

Assurance reflexive can not be a divine faith. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Implying censure. [ Obs. ] “What man does not resent an ugly reflexive word?” South. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Re*flex"ive*ly, adv. -- Re*flex"ive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]