First Known Use: 1640
Dictionary
1reflexive
adjective re·flex·ive \ri-ˈflek-siv\
grammar : showing that the action in a sentence or clause happens to the person or thing that does the action
: happening or done without thinking as a reaction to something
Full Definition of REFLEXIVE
1
a : directed or turned back on itself; also : overtly and usually ironically reflecting conventions of genre or form <a reflexive novel> b : marked by or capable of reflection : reflective
2
: of, relating to, characterized by, or being a relation that exists between an entity and itself <the relation “is equal to” is reflexive but the relation “is the father of” is not>
3
: of, relating to, or constituting an action (as in “he perjured himself”) directed back on the agent or the grammatical subject
4
: characterized by habitual and unthinking behavior
— re·flex·ive·ly adverb
— re·flex·ive·ness noun
— re·flex·iv·i·ty \ˌrē-ˌflek-ˈsi-və-tē, ri-\ noun
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Origin of REFLEXIVE
Medieval Latin reflexivus, from Latin reflexus
2reflexive
noun
Definition of REFLEXIVE
First Known Use of REFLEXIVE
1866
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
Medical Dictionary
reflexive
adjective re·flex·ive \ri-ˈflek-siv\
Medical Definition of REFLEXIVE
: characterized by habitual and unthinking behavior; also : relating to or consisting of a reflex
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